Rachel Simpson
Rachel Simpson
Associate Director – Quality Improvement Services
Professional Experience
Rachel Simpson is an accomplished healthcare professional with over 10 years of experience across various healthcare environments, including recruitment, pediatric hospital project management, and quality improvement initiatives.
In her most recent role at the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), Rachel managed four specialized international accreditation programs spanning six continents. This involved overseeing 75 clients and approximately 70 auditors, with her team conducting over 50 external assessments annually. Rachel led the recruitment of staff and auditors, developed training programs for both healthcare organizations and auditors, and provided technical guidance to ensure compliance with global best practices. She also played a key role in the development of international standards, aligning healthcare organizations with current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, regulations, and quality improvement strategies to enhance patient care and workforce quality. Her work has contributed to improvements in compliance, risk analysis, and patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings, while also equipping her with expertise in corporate governance and financial management.
During her tenure with Children’s Health Ireland, encompassing four pediatric hospitals and clinics, Rachel collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of clinical and non-clinical professionals to establish an outpatient clinic and urgent care center in Dublin. She also supported the development of a national headquarters for pediatric referrals. Leveraging insights from both adult and pediatric healthcare, she contributed to the implementation of a standardized electronic healthcare record system, led policy development and standardization efforts, and guided change management initiatives. Her extensive knowledge of regulatory requirements, including contracts, service level agreements, and GDPR-compliant data-sharing agreements, further strengthened governance and management practices within pediatric services.
In addition to her operational experience, Rachel possesses deep expertise in strategic and financial management, marketing, and international regulatory compliance for hospitals, laboratories, and medical device organizations.
Areas of Expertise
- Healthcare Accreditation
- Governance
- Policy Development
- Risk and Gap Analysis
- Compliance and Regulatory Management
- Quality, Organizational & Patient safety, Risk Mitigation
- Education/Continuous Professional Development Courses
- Pediatric Hospital Operations and Transformation
- Person Centred Care
Industry Expertise
- Hospitals
- Pediatric Facilities
- Ambulatory and Home Care
- Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging Facilities
Education
- MSc Business & Management – Trinity College Dublin
- Postgraduate Certificate in Quality & Regulation in Healthcare – Technological University on Shannon Ireland
Former Employers
- International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua)
- Children’s Health Ireland