QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR

                         ALL JURISDICTIONS

 DEFINITION:

 Under direction supervises and coordinates staff engaged in
 program and facility evaluations including various aspects of
 clinical, support, and administrative services; does other
 related duties.

 NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes only.  A particular position using this title may not
 perform all duties listed in this job specification.  Conversely,
 all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

 EXAMPLES OF WORK:

 Develops, implements, and maintains plans, policies, and
 procedures regarding a program of quality assurance; integrates
 program with the agency's management as required for federal
 accreditation and by state regulation.

 Supervises surveys and participates in the analysis of
 utilization of resources in areas such as risk management,
 program evaluation, infection control, utilization review, and
 staff development.

 Monitors quality assurance requirements for the safe and
 effective care of clients in compliance with federal and state
 accreditation and professional standards including maintenance of
 the quality assurance plan, committee activities, and utilization
 review monitoring mechanisms.

 Supervises and/or conducts surveys, interviews, and studies to
 evaluate, improve and maintain program effectiveness.

 Organizes and monitors activities of utilization review and
 related committees in conformance with the quality assurance
 program.

 Provides recommendations based on staff analysis and evaluation
 of clinical records and programs to clinical/administrative
 management and staff regarding client's health and safety,
 program efficiency, and assurance of client rights.

 Supervises field staff in their review of clinical/medical
 records.

 Monitors compliance of all disciplines, departments, and services
 with the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health
 Organizations Care, ICF/MR, or other applicable standards.

 Reviews paper and electronic records to monitor compliance with
 policy.

 Cooperates with other divisions or agencies in investigations of
 alleged incidents involving clients; initiates investigations
 where necessary.

 Supervises, coordinates, and conducts facility preparations for
 surveys by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health
 Organizations Care and other organizations which conduct surveys.

 Monitors the use of quality assurance findings in the development
 and implementation of corrective action plans.

 Monitors and reports on the facility's or agency's programs for
 correcting deficiencies identified by surveying agencies.

 Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit
 and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the
 effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and
 disciplining of subordinates.

 Develops, directs, and maintains a utilization review program for
 evaluating appropriateness of admission, continued stay, and
 discharge and the cost-effectiveness of the facility's or
 agency's use of equipment, funds, services, and personnel.

 Supervises the evaluation of clinical and professional
 credentialing policies, procedures, and processes and
 recommendations to the appropriate committee.

 Acts as liaison to identify, discuss, and remediate quality
 assurance issues in long term care.

 Reviews and critiques investigatory reports prepared by staff,
 and refers them appropriately.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the
 agency, office, or related units.

 REQUIREMENTS:

      LICENSE:

              A license as a Registered Nurse in the State of New
 Jersey.

      EXPERIENCE:

      Five (5) years of experience in the monitoring and/or
 evaluation of clinical or human services records and/or programs
 in a hospital or other health services facility or in a human
 services agency.

      NOTE: A Bachelor's degree, and four (4) years of experience
 in the monitoring and/or evaluation of clinical or human services
 records and/or programs in a hospital or other health services
 facility or in a human services agency may be substituted for the
 above license and experience requirements.

      NOTE: A Master's degree in Public Health or a health care
 related field may be substituted for one (1) year of indicated
 experience.

      LICENSE:

      Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license
 valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather
 than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential
 duties of the position.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge of quality assurance and utilization review principles
 and methods.

 Knowledge of techniques used to gather, review and analyze data.

 Ability to comprehend and apply the provisions, standards, and
 regulations such as those of the Social Security Act and the
 manuals of operational procedures and policies related to the
 disability insurance provisions of the Act and Federal Social
 Security and related parts of New Jersey Public Law.

 Ability to arrive at sound, accurate judgments and decisions
 concerning areas which involve interpretation.

 Ability to analyze data collection forms, methods, procedures,
 techniques, and workflow to identify and resolve problems.

 Ability to comprehend and interpret information and data.

 Ability to give assignments, instructions, and supervision to
 employees.

 Ability to use, comprehend, and interpret descriptive and
 inferential statistics.

 Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative
 reports.

 Ability to maintain essential records and files.

 Ability to learn and utilize various types of electronic and/or
 manual recording and information systems used by the agency,
 office, or related units.

 Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in
 English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
 American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as
 acceptable forms of communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
 as they can perform the essential functions of the job after
 reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.  
 If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause 
 the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

 This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
55955
C
C
NL
29
29
R29
-

This job specification is for state and local government use.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 2/26/2000