Risk Manager

The clinical Risk Manager manages the operation of the organization-wide risk management and patient safety programs and provides guidance to clinical staff. The Risk Manager develops and maintains systems within the organization to detect, monitor, prevent, organize, measure, investigate, report, and manage patient adverse events, malpractice claims, incident reports, and other indicators of potential patient harm. The organization’s key aims in this area are to be on the leading edge of improving health outcomes and service, increasing patient safety, and reducing error in healthcare processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The clinical Risk Manager is responsible for promoting the development and implementation of the facility risk management program including the following:

• 
  Proactively evaluate areas of organizational risk based on internal assessment and external benchmarking and implement strategies and policies that promote patient and staff safety.
• Promote the occurrence reporting process including trending and reporting of results, identification of problem-prone areas, and facilitation of prevention initiatives.
• Direct the investigation of all potentially compensable events (preventable adverse events).
• Lead the review of serious occurrences requiring root-cause analysis or failure mode and effects analysis. Disseminate lessons learned and process improvement plans.
• Meet regularly with leadership to provide detailed reports on all serious incidents, claims, and risk-related issues.
• Respond to sentinel events and other serious occurrences and provide expert advice on the management and reporting of such events to administrative and clinical leadership and staff.
• Conduct immediate/appropriate response to any serious occurrence. Complaint representing actual or potential patient, visitor, or employee injury. Monitor and take subsequent actions to ensure learning, compliance, and documentation.
• Analyze all statistical reports and advisories that identify risk management and patient safety patterns and trends of leadership.
• Ensure maximum protection from discovery of all claims/potential claims materials. Coordinate claims investigation and legal defense processes.
• Serve as liaison to external regulatory agencies for purpose of patient and physician reporting, event investigation, and response.
• Keep up to date with new and revised state and federal regulations and statutes related to health facilities and patient care. Review and evaluate related policies and procedures and recommend revisions as needed. Create new policies for approval, as needed.
• Actively participate in a variety of committees as assigned.
• Annually evaluate risk management and patient safety program for improvement opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High-energy, organized, persistent, and creative individual with strong communications, interpersonal, and systems thinking skills.
• Proven management ability and experience including a thorough understanding of quality improvement (QI) processes, tools, and techniques; quality measurement and reporting; root cause analysis and preventive risk management strategies; accrediting bodies ‘standards; and state and federal regulations.
• Bachelor’s degree required with master’s preparation and risk management certification highly desirable.
• Experience with standard Microsoft Office or related products required and experience in database management and systems development desired.
• Ability to function effectively, independently, and efficiently in a stressful and dynamic work environment.