Risk Management Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Risk Management Specialist is responsible for the overall management of potential risks and liabilities within Boston Medical Center (BMC) and serves as a role model displaying behaviors that support a strong culture of safety. The Specialist responds to patient harm events, learns from individual cases, identifies risk trends, and actively educates leaders, administrators, clinicians and staff regarding methods to maximize patient safety and simultaneously reduce professional liability claims.

This hybrid position requires onsite presence 3 days a week and on-call coverage each month.

Position: Risk Management Specialist

Department: Risk Management

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Responsible for the day-to-day coordination of internal adverse event reporting system as a critical component of the BMC hospital safety program:

• Receives and reviews computerized and telephone adverse event reports.

• Provides advice, consultation, recommendations and support to hospital and professional staff in responding to adverse events.

• Manages investigation related to adverse events, including interviewing staff and reviewing medical records for evaluation of clinical improvement and regulatory/liability reporting.

• Maintains the adverse event reporting database (RL Solutions) for tracking patient safety events. Uses this database to identify trends and opportunities to improve patient safety and health equity gaps.

• Works closely with Patient Advocacy on legal, risk and patient safety issues.

• Manages intake of adverse hospital and patient event reports:

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  • Ensures appropriate and timely follow-up to adverse events to mitigate immediate threats to safety and address other serious issues.

  • Refers cases as directed to Claims Department to minimize legal/financial liability.

  
  

• Assists in review and development of hospital policies to improve patient safety and minimize loss exposure.

• Actively participates in clinical case review and case learning committees.

• Assist with hospital equipment and supply recall process including notice of impacts or risk to patients when needed. Helps with the identification and dissemination of information related to recall process and reporting per the Safe Medical Devices Act.

• Keeps abreast of legislative and regulatory activities related to patient safety and health care risk management.

• Participates in the "on call" system.

Peer/Systems/Claims Review

• Identifies sentinel events (SREs), coordinates collaborative case reviews and collaborates with Quality and Patient Safety staff to monitor action plans required to minimize patient safety risks.

• Manages reporting to external regulatory agencies including DPH, DMH and BRM QPS division, and coordinates unannounced DPH/CMS hospital survey resulting from an SRE or patient complaint.

• Assists with management of QA/RM database for committee case reviews with conclusions, recommendations and follow-up.

• Facilitates organization and operationalization of root cause analysis (RCA) activities on assigned cases.

• Works with BMC Office of General Counsel as necessary.

• Responsible for ensuring that all information necessary to prepare for the defense of claims is collected and properly maintained in a timely manner, including the preparation of reports of investigation.

Event Analysis

• Manages review and analysis of adverse event reports, ensuring completion of event reports within 30 days.

• Identifies trends and collaborates with Quality and Patient Safety staff and clinical teams to design processes to prevent medical error and reduce loss.

• Provides feedback to reporters regarding investigations and corrective actions.

• Reviews aggregate adverse events as well as other hospital information to identify problem and risk-prone activities, procedures and services.

Education

• Assists clinical chairs and department chiefs to design patient safety and risk management programs specific to their individual areas.

• Helps ensure that risk management policies and procedures are communicated to employees.

• Develops and presents educational sessions on patient safety and professional liability risk reduction to physicians and employees.

• Periodically reports on risk management matters and prepare reports for various committees and boards.

Job Requirements

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's Degree required. Advanced degree (i.e., JD, master's) preferred.
• Concentration in nursing, science or other healthcare related field required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• CPHRM preferred. RN Preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• With CPHRM or RN certification - Requires at least 5 years of clinical care/healthcare experience. Minimum of 2 years in risk management/patient safety/quality improvement.
• Without certification - Requires significant years of clinical care/healthcare experience, and in risk management/patient safety. Minimum of 7 years' relevant work experience in risk management required in lieu of degree/license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSA):

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  Prior risk management or related experience in a healthcare setting required; knowledge of medical malpractice, healthcare law, and healthcare terminology preferred.
• Must have interpersonal skills necessary to deal effectively with administrative and clinical leadership, staff, clinical chairpersons, and other healthcare professionals.
• Ability to effectively interview individuals and groups from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle matters of sensitive nature.
• Ability to collect event information and organize into a coherent narrative.
• Basic command of data management and analysis required.
• Highly self-motivated. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to work deadlines.
• Ability to inspire trust and be seen as someone who provides support and assistance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skill including ability to speak before large audiences and prepare and provide presentations.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office; ability to learn new computer applications such as adverse event reporting software (RL Solutions).
• Occasionally needed to work irregular hours or additional hours for on-call purposes.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability as role may evolve e in a changing environment.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS (responsible for on-call, 24 hr. coverage, etc.):

Participates in the "on call" system

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans