Job Description
Position Overview The Associate Vice President, Quality & Patient Safety serves as VHC Health’s designated Patient Safety Officer and is the enterprise leader responsible for shaping and advancing a culture of safety, high reliability, and regulatory excellence across the organization and VHC Medical Group practices. This is a pivotal executive role with system-wide influence, driving the strategy that ensures every patient experience reflects the highest standards of quality and accountability. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the AVP partners closely with nursing, medical staff, operations, service line leaders, and risk management to translate vision into measurable results. This leader sets the direction for enterprise-wide quality and safety initiatives aligned with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, Leapfrog measures, and national benchmarks, elevating performance in CMS Star Ratings, accreditation readiness, clinical outcomes, and patient experience. Success in this role requires more than regulatory expertise. It demands executive presence, strategic foresight, analytical rigor, and the ability to lead transformational change in a complex healthcare environment. The AVP will serve as both a catalyst and steward of excellence, ensuring VHC Health continues to set the standard for safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. Key Responsibilities Serve as the organization’s Patient Safety Officer, leading system-wide patient safety initiatives and safety investigations Direct quality improvement, regulatory readiness, performance improvement, and accreditation activities Drive CMS Star Rating performance and ensure sustained compliance with federal and state regulations Partner with clinical and operational leaders to translate quality data into actionable improvement strategies Oversee quality measurement methodologies, dashboards, and executive-level reporting Lead system-wide change management initiatives to advance high-reliability principles Ensure survey readiness across hospital and medical group practices Education Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Public Health, or related field (required) Graduation from an accredited school of nursing (preferred) Experience Minimum five (5) years of progressive healthcare, nursing, or patient care experience Demonstrated executive or senior-level leadership experience Proven success improving CMS Star Ratings and regulatory performance Strong data interpretation, analytics, and executive-level presentation experience Experience leading safety investigations and managing conflict in complex environments Certification / Licensure Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) (required) Lean or Six Sigma certification (preferred) Licensed Registered Nurse in Virginia or Compact State (preferred) Core Competencies Executive presence and exceptional communication skills Advanced analytical and systems-thinking capability Change management expertise High emotional intelligence Deep knowledge of: CMS Conditions of Participation Joint Commission standards Quality measurement methodologies Regulatory and accreditation frameworks Why Join VHC Health? Located in Arlington, Virginia, VHC Health is a 548-bed, independent, not-for-profit health system and nationally recognized teaching hospital serving the Washington, DC metropolitan region for more than 75 years. VHC Health has earned national recognition for clinical excellence and patient safety, including: 2025 World’s Best Hospital recognition by Newsweek 5-Star Overall Hospital Quality Rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Magnet® designation for nursing excellence Level II Trauma Center designation At VHC Health, you’re more than an employee, you’re part of a team that values collaboration, respect, and growth. You’ll work alongside highly skilled professionals in a supportive environment where your voice is heard, your contributions matter, and your career development is a priority. With state-of-the-art facilities, expanding specialty services, and strong community partnerships, VHC Health offers the opportunity to build a meaningful, long-term career while making a real difference for patients and the community we serve. Benefits To help you be at your best and make the most of your employment experience, we offer a comprehensive and generous benefits package. Team members are eligible to receive benefits on t