Career Center

The Patient Safety Director assists with developing, implementing, and coordinating the risk management program, with the objectives of controlling and minimizing the organization’s overall risk exposure. The Patient Safety director participates in clinical safety and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring compliance with established objectives and the realization of quality healthcare services. The Patient Safety Director supports both the organization’s Operations and Clinical Quality teams.

Risk Management

• Collaborates with executive leadership to effectively incorporate risk management and quality programs within system operations and programs and carries out the responsibilities of the position.

• Coordinates risk management functions to maximally ensure that identification of risk exposure, assessment, appraisal, and loss prevention are carried out.
• Assists with establishing a Comprehensive Risk Management Plan for the organization.
• Reviews and revises the risk management plan and all risk management policies on an annual basis.
• Prepares and manages the risk management budget.
• Participates as a member of appropriate committees and task forces assigned to improve quality and safety and to reduce organizational risk.
• Prepares all necessary documentation and promotes compliance with internal policies and external regulations regarding areas of risk management responsibility, including but not limited to adverse events and root-cause analyses.
• Develops statistical and qualitative reports on risk management trends and patterns and communicates this information effectively to appropriate audiences.
• Identifies and limits legal exposures.
• Develops and implements preventive risk management programs. Educates staff in appropriate procedures, documentation, reporting, and follow-up in key areas of risk management interest. Acts as the organization’s expert resource in risk reduction and keeps abreast of trends in the industry.
• Promotes compliance with all applicable regulations including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Develops annual goals for the risk management department. Employs a vision to develop new concepts and solutions. Is inspired to succeed and driven to deliver on goals and expectations.
• Consults with management about risk management requests, and quality requests for data review.

Incident Management/Adverse Outcome Cases

•  Acts as a spokesperson and directs the risk investigations of all potentially compensable events (patient, family, and visitor) reported to facility medical directors, CMO, or other members of the leadership team.
• Keeps the leadership team informed of investigation progress and complaints that may be considered a potentially compensable claim.
• Maintains contact with clinicians regarding risk issues and informs appropriate individuals of significant cases.
• Evaluates all incidents for severity, frequency, and probability of financial loss, and reports as necessary to appropriate administration, committees, and personnel.
• Develops and maintains an incident reporting system by establishing a comprehensive incident reporting plan that establishes policies, educational programs, and reporting methods for the appropriate areas.
• Facilitates, along with the CMO and CQO, with conducting or authorizing investigations of matters that merit investigation under the risk management program keeping senior leadership advised of sensitive information.
• Directs information on incidents as appropriate to medical staff peer review processes.
• Manages and monitors the effectiveness of a comprehensive incident reporting system.

Litigation/Claims Management

•  Assists in the handling of defense of legal claims, NOIs received to the corporate office, and provides support in the completion of incident reports.
• Acts as liaison to outside litigation counsel in the management and investigation of filed lawsuits and related litigation processes. Understands the legal components of the risk management industry.
• Presents summary information to outside legal counsel, CMO, and COO with an opinion as to the potential for litigation. Manages the documentation and computerized files of all claims.
• Supports the claims management process to ensure notices and claims are forwarded to the malpractice carrier and legal counsel to meet legal and/or regulatory deadlines.

Education on Risk and Patient Safety

• Researches, Identifies and facilitates proactive education for clinical staff on new and changes to current rulings, proactive risk mitigation strategies and trends, etc.
• Coordinates and tracks education programs addressing risk management for clinical staff.
• Serves as a resource to facility staff on issues related to risk management and patient safety. Demonstrates role model behavior regarding proper customer satisfaction, conduct, confidentiality, complaint resolution, and problem-solving.

Loss Prevention

• Proactively recommends appropriate revisions to new or existing policies and procedures to eliminate or reduce risk and to prevent future occurrences.
• Uses industry benchmarking to compare appropriate data.
• Maintains business relationships with hospital risk management teams, malpractice carriers, and assigned legal counsel.
• Builds and maintains trusting relationships with both internal and external customers to enhance communication regarding risk and safety.
• Performs other related administrative managerial duties as required.
• Minimum: BSN
• Preferred: BSN plus master’s level education
• Five to Seven years of experience in risk management/patient safety healthcare setting.
• Certified professional healthcare risk manager (CPHRM) is desired.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively with medical and administrative personnel and to manage stressful situations.
• Demonstrates knowledge and implementation of creative and innovative risk management processes.
• Maintains professional affiliations and enhances professional growth and development to keep up with the latest trends in healthcare compliance.
• Shows good judgment.
• Can build trust while maintaining confidentiality.
• Has a high emotional intelligence.
• Acts as an effective team leader and motivator.

• Minimum: BSN
• Preferred: BSN plus master’s level education
• Five to Seven years of experience in risk management/patient safety healthcare setting.
• Certified professional healthcare risk manager (CPHRM) is desired.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively with medical and administrative personnel and to manage stressful situations.
• Demonstrates knowledge and implementation of creative and innovative risk management processes.
• Maintains professional affiliations and enhances professional growth and development to keep up with the latest trends in healthcare compliance.
• Shows good judgment.
• Can build trust while maintaining confidentiality.
• Has a high emotional intelligence.
• Acts as an effective team leader and motivator.