This position is responsible for COLA’s Quality Management. This individual acts as a resource to the organization in the analysis and improvement of business processes. This individual promotes focus on understanding and incorporating customer requirements in addition to utlizing feedback for process or product improvement. The position promotes the process approach, risk-based thinking and the collection and analysis of data to support evidence-based decision making.
Essential Functions:
Accessible to Executive and Leadership teams for consultation and assistance regarding COLA’s Quality Management System, ISO certification. Mentors team members to assist them in performing their assigned responsibilities.
Coordinates activities among Executive team members for the enhancement of COLA’s management system
Assists business lines to identify organizational context and interested parties and engage these parties to provide feedback and consultation to the business line, in accordance with ISO standards
Assists business lines with collecting and reporting customer feedback and utilization of feedback for performance improvements
Communicates directly with customers to assess any complaints and ensure satisfactory resolution of issues related to COLA processes. Generates correspondence as needed to respond to customer comments.
Supports business lines with performance improvement plans and implementation
Supports business lines in creation and reporting of business metrics
Conducts management reviews ensuring all required inputs are addressed and outputs documented. Maintains and tracks completion of action items resulting from Management Review.
Maintains risk and opportunity register
Oversees the Change Management Process, to address customer feedback, nonconforming events
COLA corporate representative for ANSI membership and with BSI Registrar
Schedules and coordinates external audits and follow up with BSI Registrar
Develops, implements and oversees the internal audit program
Oversees corrective action process for identified nonconformities in COLA’s products and services and internal operations
Maintains systems and processes for management of documents and records associated with the quality management system and COLA business lines
Oversees compilation of business metrics on a monthly basis and communication to Executive Team and staff
Promotes and supports project management throughout the organization
Participates or leads project teams in support of strategic goals or planned improvements
Promotes understanding of customer and regulatory requirements, creation/maintenance of policies and standard work documents, process design and metrics for process performance and customer satisfaction
Seeks opportunities to broaden knowledge and share acquired knowledge with others. Supports and accommodates the needs and desires of team members regarding their personal growth and continuing education.
Supervises the activities of the Project Manager, Quality Systems Specialist and the COLA Internal Audit Teams evaluating COLA’s management system, products and services
Oversees the production of tactical plans and budget associated with ISO 9001 certification. Ensures that reports are submitted in a timely manner.
Prepares Board Reports and Slides regarding strategic goals, business metrics and status of COLA’s ISO certification
Required Education and Experience:
Baccalaureate degree in clinical laboratory science, business administration, management or organizational excellence.
Certification in Auditing by ASQ, RABSQA or other equivalent organization.
Experience in utilizing and ensuring compliance with ISO 9001,
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Demonstrated personnel and operations management skills with at least three years direct experience in the management of people and systems
Thorough knowledge and experience in Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint)
Solid interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Demonstrated aptitude for learning new subjects and technologies
Preferred: experience in laboratory science
Preferred: experience in project management (certification in Project management methods)
Preferred: Advanced degree in, business, or organizational development
Preferred: Experience using continuous quality improvement concepts and methods
Preferred: Training in personnel motivation and management, systems control, strategic planning, or budget and finance management
As a leading physician-directed accrediting organization and the first to obtain federal approval under CLIA, we accredit laboratories of all types, sizes and complexities. For over thirty years, we have refined our unique educationally focused accreditation experience. Year over year customers report 98% satisfaction. Accreditation is our core business. Promoting health and safety is our mission. Guiding professionals to achieve their vision for laboratory excellence is our passion.
We’re here to answer your product-related questions
NAHQ wants to partner with you and your organization as you explore how to elevate the profession and advance the discipline of healthcare Quality & Safety.
Need customer service assistance?
For customer service issues, contact us at info@nahq.org or call us at (847) 375-4720. The team is available Monday-Friday from 8 AM-4:30 PM CT.
Important Information for CPHQ Recertification
The recertification process has been streamlined. Unlike previous years, you don’t need to list out your CE activities at the time of completing your application. Instead, you will be asked to attest to having met the requirements, further aligning with the honor-based system of recertification. In the event that your application is randomly selected for audit, you may be required to list your CE activities and submit supporting documentation.
While you may participate in NAHQ learning opportunities (Learning Labs, JHQ articles, etc.), you can only claim CE credit once for each activity. Therefore, if you’ve previously earned CE from a NAHQ learning opportunity, you can’t claim it again, nor will you see the repeat CE appear in your “My Learning� tab. This includes activities used in previous recertification cycles.
Remember, if you’re recertifying during the grace period (1/1/24-1/31/24), you already had to earn your CE hours by Dec 31, 2023.
You still have time! Register today for a multi-day virtual event that addresses the most urgent and important issues facing healthcare today that offers a full schedule of educational sessions organized around NAHQ’s twice-validated healthcare quality competency framework.
We are excited to announce the release of the book “UNSTOPPABLE: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance, Triumph and Joy from Trailblazing Women in Healthcare“.
Be inspired by nine leading healthcare trailblazers, including our own CEO Stephanie Mercado, who empower us all with their vision and passions.
You’ll notice we’ve simplified the application process to recertify. You will not have to list your CE activities at the time of applying*. Simply attest that you met the requirements to complete the application.
*In the event of an audit, CPHQs may need to list activities and upload documentation in their NAHQ account.
Quality Education Resources
Join this informative session, “Quality Education Resources� Thursday, June 22 from 11-11:30 a.m. CT. You will learn about the range of NAHQ quality education resources available to you and hear directly from universities about the benefits they realized from implementing NAHQ’s content within their courses.
Maintain a Pulse on the Latest Quality & Safety Benchmarking Data
Learn more about NAHQ’s enhanced Quality and Safety Benchmarking Program, which provides timely insights to help U.S. hospitals and health systems create data-driven business cases for their quality and safety resourcing.
Understand the Variability Among Your Quality Team Through Workforce Accelerator
Join us Tuesday, May 2, at 11 a.m. CT, to learn more about the different options available to engage with NAHQ’s enterprise-wide solution, Workforce Accelerator®. Options range in size and scope and are designed to meet the various budgetary and timing needs of health systems as they embark on their quality journeys. Register today!
Healthcare Quality and Safety Workforce Report: New Imperatives for Quality and Safety Mean New Imperatives for Workforce Development
The National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ) has conducted groundbreaking research on the advancement of the quality and safety agenda and has published the results in a new workforce report. NAHQ’s Healthcare Quality and Safety Report answers the question: “Is today’s healthcare workforce doing the work that will advance critical priorities of quality, safety, equity, value, and system sustainability?� The answer is no.
Updated Maintenance Dates: Sunday, February 5, 2023
Maintenance is planned for Sunday, February 5, from 11 p.m.-4 p.m. CT. During this time, you will not have access to the “My Learning” section of your NAHQ account. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience.
NAHQ’s Organizational Membership Subscription will serve as a one-stop shop for healthcare quality and safety training and education. Attend the February 2, at 11 a.m. CT, info session to further understand the new offering that will continue NAHQ’s focus of “Quality in Action.�
NAHQ has published an updated version of the CPHQ exam content outline.
The new exam content will take effect on March 15, 2023. Candidates planning to take the exam before March 15, 2023, can access the current CPHQ exam content outline and related resources on our website.
Missed NAHQ Next? Don’t worry, you can purchase NAHQ Next on-demand and receive access to all content for 60 days from purchase. Benefit from actionable content that addresses issues head-on and features “how-tos” and results. Buy now and have the opportunity to receive 40+ CEs.
Healthcare Quality and Safety Workforce Report: New Imperatives for Quality and Safety Mean New Imperatives for Workforce Development
Member Briefing Workshop and Healthcare Quality Week Webinar
October 7, at 12 p.m. CT
NAHQ will host an exclusive member briefing workshop where NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado and NAHQ President-Elect Nidia Williams will review the workforce report in-depth and prepare you to discuss it with your team and leadership during Healthcare Quality Week.
October 17, at 12 p.m. CT
To kick off Healthcare Quality Week, (HQW) NAHQ will host a complimentary webinar with NAHQ leaders to discuss the report, its impact and how you can leverage the report to your advantage.
You still have time! Register today for a multi-day virtual event that addresses the most urgent and important issues facing healthcare today that offers a full schedule of educational sessions organized around NAHQ's twice-validated healthcare quality competency framework.