What is a quality assurance specialist? This position is an integral part of any healthcare organization that provides therapeutic care to those who struggle with physical or mental health conditions. They help companies maintain regulatory compliance, monitor reporting and documentation for errors, identify potential risks, and perform other duties to ensure the organization can continue providing quality care.
The Behavioral Health Jobs website is for job candidates who are looking for a rewarding career in the behavioral health industry as a quality assurance specialist or other operational healthcare position. New jobs are uploaded daily for administrators, managers, technicians, specialists, clinicians, and all other healthcare fields. You can search for a new job by job title or keyword search and filter the results by experience level, organization type, and other search criteria.
When you’re ready to start a new career search, visit the Behavioral Health Jobs website today to see all available behavioral health jobs.
What Does a Quality Assurance Specialist Do?
The definition of quality assurance specialist is “a professional who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting and proposing measures to correct or improve an organization’s final products to meet established quality standards.”
To a healthcare organization, this means they work to ensure the company is providing the appropriate care based on state and federal regulations and other criteria. They help ensure the company stays compliant in its services and operations so that it maintains a standard of quality, safety, and efficacy. Some of the duties that are common with this position include:
- Regulatory compliance – Aids the organization in staying compliant with all local, state, and federal healthcare regulations set by accrediting bodies, like the Joint Commission.
- Healthcare process improvement – Identifies any healthcare processes within the organization to identify any processes that need improvement.
- Training and development – Work with staff to educate and train them on new standards and protocols and ensure they are up to date with all training and safety guidelines.
- Monitoring and reporting – Monitors healthcare practices and their outcomes and preparing regulatory reports to review quality initiatives and find any programs that are not compliant.
- Risk management – Identify risks and implement programs to mitigate risks to patient safety while maintaining a safe environment for staff and patients.
The Behavioral Health Jobs website is more than just a job board that specializes in the healthcare industry. We support job seekers by giving them helpful career tips and advice. Our News and Resources page includes a number of posts on what a quality assurance specialist does, resume tips and tricks, interview do’s and don’ts, and other beneficial information.
Quality Assurance Specialist Qualifications
To become a QA specialist, you must complete certain requirements before you can qualify for the position. These include certain educational requirements, technical and personal skills, and additional training.
Education
The minimum education requirement for this position is a bachelor’s degree in quality assurance, business administration, engineering, computer science, biology, chemistry, or a related healthcare degree. You can also earn a master’s degree in quality assurance or business administration (MBA).
Skills List
The top technical skills that QA specialists need include analytical skills, regulatory compliance, advanced computer skills, and proficiency in test automation tools and testing methodologies. Other hard skills include data analysis, Microsoft Office and Google Doc apps, and customer service.
In addition to your hard skills, you need a number of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, keen attention to detail, excellent communication skills, critical thinking skills, organizational skills, and time management skills.
Certification
Many healthcare companies require their QA specialists to have specialized training in addition to their post-secondary education. The top certifications for QA specialists include:
- Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA)
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
- Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
- ISO 9001 Certification Training
Before applying for a new job, check the education and other requirements in the job post to ensure you have all of the necessary qualifications.
Get Started as a Quality Assurance Specialist at Behavioral Health Jobs
The Behavioral Health Jobs website is updated daily with new jobs for QA specialists, administrators, managers, and other administrative healthcare positions. You can find a new quality assurance specialist position in several different organizations, from private and state-run hospitals, mental healthcare facilities, community centers, private practices, government facilities, and other healthcare organizations.
To find a new QA specialist job near you, start a new career search by going to the Behavioral Health Jobs job board today.
