Mgtr. Hazel N Ramos Thomas

Consulting Expertise

Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety Consulting Experience:

Guided by the principle: “Quality starts with people before it is reflected in systems and processes.”

Consulting experience supporting public and private healthcare organizations in the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of patient safety, quality, and risk management systems, aligned with international standards and regulatory frameworks. Experience includes working across multiple healthcare institutions simultaneously, supporting leadership teams in translating standards and accreditation requirements into practical, measurable, and sustainable processes.

National Deputy Coordinator of Quality Management

Social Security Fund (CSS)                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2020 – 2024

• Led the creation of the first national committee on quality, patient safety, and accreditation.
• Developed incident and sentinel event reporting systems to strengthen organizational learning and prevention.
• Designed hospital accreditation documentation systems aligned with international standards.
• Implemented surgical safety protocols and related auditing programs to reduce preventable harm.
• Designed and implemented patient safety and quality management frameworks aligned with JCI standards and measurable elements.
• Developed normative and regulatory documentation governing key clinical and operational processes.
• Executed diagnostic, process, standards, and regulatory audits, including gap analysis and corrective action planning.
• Led root cause analyses (RCA) and proactive risk assessments (HFMEA) to prevent adverse events.
• Designed and monitored performance indicators, audit programs, and governance mechanisms to support executive decision-making.
• Supported hospital accreditation readiness, regulatory inspections, and large-scale quality improvement initiatives.
• Provided advisory support to executive leadership on strategic decision-making related to patient safety, quality, and organizational performance.
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Quality and Safety Consultant – Operating Room

Hospital Brisas, CYTEC 2R                                                                                                                                                                                                                   2019 – 2020

• Implemented JCI-compliant OR standards.
• Developed surgical supply kits by specialty.

Quality Management Coordinator – OR

Hospital Paitilla                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     2016 – 2017

• Standardized surgical supply kits.

Additional consulting experience and contributions not detailed in this CV due to confidentiality considerations.

Accomplishments

Recognized for designing end-to-end patient safety and quality management systems that integrate governance, risk management, workforce capability, and data-driven decision-making.

• Experience supporting large-scale, multi-institutional healthcare initiatives across public and private sectors.
• Designed and implemented patient safety and quality management frameworks aligned with international standards (JCI-aligned).
• Led the development and implementation of adverse event reporting and risk management systems across public and private healthcare institutions.
• Conducted root cause analyses (RCA) and proactive risk assessments (HFMEA), supporting measurable improvements in patient safety outcomes.
• Supported healthcare organizations in strengthening governance, performance indicators, and continuous improvement processes.
• Led and participated in process, standards, and regulatory audits, supporting corrective actions and compliance improvement.
• Designed and facilitated training programs in quality, patient safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance for multidisciplinary teams.
• Supported public and private healthcare organizations in accreditation readiness and regulatory inspections.
• Contributed to the digital transformation of quality and patient safety processes through the design of structured, data-driven tools.
• Advised leadership teams on strategic decision-making related to patient safety, quality improvement, and organizational performance.
• Led the development of normative and regulatory documents governing clinical and operational processes, aligned with quality and patient safety standards and JCI measurable elements.
• Conducted diagnostic audits to assess organizational compliance with quality and patient safety standards and measurable elements, supporting gap analysis and improvement planning.
• Designed and implemented knowledge-based audits to assess staff understanding of key processes required for hospital accreditation readiness.
• Led the development, implementation, training, and measurement of an International Patient Safety Goal across 21 public hospitals simultaneously, evaluating process adherence and performance.
• Supported healthcare leadership teams in translating audit results and performance data into actionable improvement plans aligned with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
• Advised leadership teams on strategic decision-making related to patient safety, quality improvement, and organizational performance.
• Additional accomplishments available upon request.

Education

• Postgraduate in Higher Education Teaching, University of Panama (2020)
• Masters in Business Management with Emphasis in Managerial Strategies, Technological University of Panama (2015)
• Postgraduate in Senior Management, Technological University of Panama (2014)
• Surgical Nurse, Punta Pacífica and Santo Tomás Hospitals (2010)
• Bachelor’s in Nursing Sciences, University of Panama (2002)
• Nursing Assistant, University of Panama (1996)
• High School Diploma in Science, Instituto América (1996)
• Middle School Certificate, Dr. Octavio Méndez Pereira (1993)
• Primary School Certificate, Nuestra Señora del Carmen School (1990)

Speaker

• International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG): Overview and implementation of international patient safety goals to reduce preventable harm and strengthen safety culture.
• Correct Patient Identification: Best practices to ensure accurate patient identification and prevent errors throughout the continuum of care.
• Effective Communication in Healthcare: Strategies to improve communication related to critical values, verbal and telephone medical orders, and safe patient handovers.
• Safe Handover and Transfer of Patient Information: Approaches to ensure accurate, timely, and complete transfer of patient information between healthcare professionals.
• Surgical Safety Pause (Time-Out): Implementation and reinforcement of the surgical safety pause to ensure correct patient, procedure, and site, enhancing team communication and preventing surgical errors.
• Fall Risk Reduction: Identification, assessment, and prevention strategies to reduce patient fall risks in healthcare settings.
• Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities: Education on patient rights and responsibilities to promote patient-centered care and regulatory compliance.
• Continuous Improvement Plans: Design and implementation of structured improvement plans to enhance quality and patient safety outcomes.
• Risk Management in Healthcare: Identification, analysis, and mitigation of clinical and organizational risks to prevent adverse events.
• Incident Reporting Systems: Development and management of systems for reporting incidents, near misses, adverse events, and sentinel events.
• Near Misses, Adverse Events, and Sentinel Events: Analysis and management of safety events to support learning, prevention, and system improvement.
• Hospital Accreditation Process: Guidance on hospital accreditation standards, preparation, and readiness aligned with international frameworks.
• Performance Measurement: Indicators and Audits: Design and use of indicators and audits to monitor performance, compliance, and patient safety outcomes.
• Hospital Accreditation Project Management: Planning, coordination, and execution of hospital accreditation projects, including timelines, teams, and deliverables.
• Patient and Family Education: Strategies to educate patients and families on safety, care processes, and shared responsibility to improve outcomes and reduce preventable risks.
• Additional academic and professional educational activities

Teaching and Research

MEDISFAST                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2016 – 2018

Clinical Nursing Instructor

University of Panama                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2015–2016

– Introduced continuous improvement indicators in clinical practice.

OR Nurse Educator

Hospital Punta Pacífica                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2013 – 2016

• Achieved Johns Hopkins accreditation.
• Implemented surgical safety pause.

Nursing Instructor

Centro Tecnológico Superior de Panamá                                                                                                                                                                                      2012 – 2013

Team Building Workshop Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                                         2010 – 2011

Activities, Societies, Foundations, and Affiliations

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Support Network Volunteer

support network dedicated to assisting vulnerable populations through the distribution of essential supplies in remote communities.

Academic collaboration with public and private universities in Panama.

• University-level instruction and academic support in healthcare quality, patient safety, and risk management topics.
• Design and delivery of academic and professional training content related to quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory standards.
• Guest lectures and educational sessions for undergraduate students and healthcare professionals.
• Support to academic institutions in aligning educational content with healthcare quality standards and best practices.
• Participation in academic activities focused on patient safety culture, continuous improvement, and healthcare governance.