Quality Assurance Nurse

PHMC is proud to be a leader in public health. PHMC requires that all employees are fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine before the first day of employment.

Program Summary: The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), Division of Disease Control (DDC), works to prevent, control, and report on diseases and conditions that are contagious and/or affect the public’s health. DDC helps prepare for public health emergencies and educate the community on how to stay safe and healthy. Within the Division, immunization services across the city of Philadelphia are supported by a robust immunization program that coordinates the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults at Risk (VFAAR) programs and performs community-based outreach activities to families with under-immunized children. Through the Immunization Quality Improvement Program (IQIP) the Immunization Program provides coverage assessments and strategies to help to area providers vaccinate children on time.

Our program also hosts a well-established immunization information system (IIS), PhilaVax, to which all Philadelphia providers are mandated to report. The Philavax IIS covers childhood, adolescent and adult vaccines. Data provided by the PhilaVax IIS helps target outreach, assessment, and feedback activities, and helps support successful implementation of immunization recommendations.

The overall goal of the Immunization Program is to increase the vaccination of all Philadelphians with immunizations routinely recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by reducing missed opportunities, ensuring equitable access to vaccines, and improving immunization delivery practices among providers.

Job Description:

The Philadelphia Immunization Program’s Provider Quality Assurance (PQA) nurse works with practices raise immunization coverage levels and standards of practice at the provider level. This strategy relies on an assessment of current practices, vaccine coverage levels, utilization of immunization resources, and compliance with medical standards and federal regulations.

The PQA Nurse will be responsible for the assessment of immunization practices and compliance with VFC Program and/or VFAAR Program regulations within the provider’s office, and the development and implementation of a quality improvement plan for each provider. The implementation of the quality improvement plan will require the PQA Nurse to provide on-site educational training, technical assistance, and ongoing training and support through continuous contact and site visits.

The PQA Nurse in collaboration with colleagues will be responsible for Immunization Program provider educational training throughout the city of Philadelphia. Education programs will include medical assistants, office managers, physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. The PQA Nurse will also be responsible for contributing to the development of immunization education materials including immunization standards, standing orders, power point presentations, immunization resources, and educational newsletter articles.

Additional program information can be found at vax.phila.gov.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with other members of the Immunization Program to implement immunization activities.


• Conduct annual visits to VFC-enrolled immunization providers to conduct an on-site assessment of vaccine delivery services, vaccine administration, participation with the PhilaVax IIS, implementation of strategies to increase immunization coverage levels, and ongoing immunization education needs.


• Manage and evaluate assessment data collected during provider visits; conduct immunization coverage rate assessments using the PhilaVax IIS and work closely with immunization staff to ensure data quality and to track immunization coverage levels.


• Assist providers in development and implementation of quality improvement plans through IQIP.


• Conduct in-office educational trainings and assistance on vaccine management and administration, standards for pediatric, adolescent, and adult immunization practices, the PhilaVax IIS, and strategies to increase immunization coverage levels.


• Participate in additional immunization education activities as needed, including trainings for medical assistants, office managers, physicians, nurses, and internal staff.


• Assist in the development of provider education materials.


• Provide feedback on new developments for the IIS as it relates to the VFC/VFAAR and IQIP programs.


• Attend regularly scheduled meetings to collaborate and plan with members of the Immunization Program.


• Collaborate with members of other divisions of PDPH to address immunization related initiatives.


• Support immunization activities throughout DDC including, but not limited to administering vaccine or Ig in the case of a vaccine preventable disease outbreak or public health emergencies as required. Participate in other community immunization activities as needed.


• Other duties as necessary.

Skills:

• Experience implementing education and/or training programs.


• Strong written and oral communication skills.


• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office, demonstrated ability to learn new computer applications, comfort using databases, and proficiency utilizing on-line data management platforms.


• Knowledge of:
  
  • Theories, principles, and practices of nursing and their application in community health and clinic service settings
  
  
  • Laws and regulations governing nursing practices
  
  
  • Immunology o Surveillance, prevention, and control of vaccine preventable diseases
  
  
  • Vaccine administration techniques
  
  
  • The ACIP immunization schedule


• Must be able to lift up to 50lbs.


• Must be eligible to work legally in the United States.


• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Education/Experience:

• RN/BSN.


• Clinical experience is beneficial.


• 3-5 years of experience.

Salary:

• $65k-$75K, commensurate with experience.

To Apply:

• Interested applicants should submit an electronic cover letter and resume bundled into one document, to Lorraine Matijkiw, MA, BSN, RN, CSN - IQIP Coordinator Division of Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Public Health


• Email: [ Email address blocked ] - Click here to apply to Quality Assurance Nurse

Salary : $65 - $75,000