Associate Vice President Quality/Patient Safety Officer

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.

Purpose & Scope:

The Associate Vice President (AVP), Quality & Patient Safety serves as the organization’s Patient Safety Officer (PSO) and is responsible for leading, coordinating, and advancing the hospital’s quality, safety, performance improvement, and regulatory readiness strategies within the hospital and associated VHC Medical Group Practices.

This executive leader partners closely with clinical, operational, nursing, medical staff leadership, and risk management to ensure delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care aligned with CMS, Joint Commission, Leapfrog, and other regulatory and accreditation standards while supporting the hospital’s strategic objectives related to quality, safety, and patient experience. .

The AVP reports to the Chief Medical Officer and works collaboratively with nursing, operations, service line leaders, and the medical staff.

Education:

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, or Public Health is required

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing is preferred.
 

Experience:

Five years of healthcare, nursing, or patient care experience is required.

Demonstrated leadership ability is required.

Data interpretation/presentation experience is required.

Certification/Licensure:

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred

Licensed as a Registered Nurse by the Virginia Department of Health Professions or Compact State Licensure in Nursing is preferred.

Other Qualifications

• Executive presence and exemplary communication skills

• Strong analytical capability

• Ability to manage conflict in safety investigations

• Systems thinking

• Change management expertise

• High emotional intelligence

• Demonstrated success improving CMS Star Ratings and regulatory performance.

Deep knowledge of:

• CMS Conditions of Participation

• Joint Commission standards

• Quality measurement methodologies

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
• “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
• 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.

Our Community:

Living in Arlington, Virginia offers a high quality of life in a dynamic, diverse, and well-connected community just minutes from Washington, D.C. The area combines urban convenience with access to natural spaces and cultural destinations.

• Located directly across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital, providing easy access to national institutions, museums, historic sites, performing arts, and world-class cultural amenities.
• A wide range of outdoor and community amenities including extensive parks and open space with roughly 86–100 miles of multi-use biking/jogging trails, 148+ parks and green spaces, 13 community centers, 8 public libraries, multiple live-stage theaters, and 650+ restaurants.
• One of the most highly educated populations in the United States, with a large share of residents holding bachelor’s degrees or higher.
• Served by two major airports offering nonstop flights to more than 250 domestic and international destinations, with convenient access for travel anywhere in the U.S. or around the globe.
• Strong and highly rated public-school systems; students in Arlington Public Schools represent many languages and backgrounds, reflecting broad community diversity.
• Recognized repeatedly among the best places to live in the nation, with high marks for public schools, health and fitness, outdoor activities, and overall quality of life.
• Compact, walkable neighborhoods with extensive multi-use trails, parks, and green spaces that support recreation and outdoor living.
• Vibrant neighborhoods with a mix of historic and modern housing options, dining, retail, cultural events, and community organizations.

Whether you choose to live in Arlington County, nearby Alexandria, Fairfax County, or other communities in Northern Virginia, you’ll find a range of residential styles, access to outdoor recreation, and proximity to premier educational, cultural, and civic resources.

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 the first day of the month following the date of hire, with 30 days to apply for benefits of choice.

Our Benefits Package Includes:

• Comprehensive Medical & Dental Plans
• VHC Health's Health System PPO
• VHC Health's Health System High Deductible Plan
• Kaiser Permanente Signature HMO
• Condition management programs
• Delta Dental PPO
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life Insurance
• Disability
• Employee Wellness Benefits
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Time-off (PTO)
• Sick Time
• Holiday Time
• Family Leave Program
• VHC Health Retirement Program

Additional Perks Include:

• VHC Health Outpatient Pharmacy
• Clinical and Research Pathways eligible
• Annual merit review
• Merit increases
• ATM on campus
• Cafeteria discount
• Career development and mentorship program
• Childbirth education class discount
• COVID vaccinations and boosters (free)
• Direct deposit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee lactation rooms
• Employee recognition program Stars, Shout Out's and Years of Service
• Flu shots (free)
• Gift shop on campus
• Health promotion fitness class and health screening discount
• On-site Employee Health Dept.
• On-site Parking
• Retirement education
• Smoke-free, drug-free campus
• Smoking cessation program
• Student Loan Repayment program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Talent Management provides career counseling, leadership development and consultation, and training
• Worker’s Compensation
• Workforce Enhancement Program
• Work/Life Discounts Program

View our full benefits package here!