Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager

Location: Parkland Support Serv Bldg A

Primary Purpose

The Senior Patient Safety Clinical Risk Professional leads and facilitates all levels of activity associated with the patient safety and clinical risk management program across the entire health system. Works with immediate leaders (Manager/Director) to fully implement a comprehensive patient safety clinical risk management program. Key functions include, but are not limited to, health care risk management and patient safety foundational elements such as safety post review and investigation, in‑depth investigations for serious safety and moderate harm events. These investigations may require a full Cause Analysis or other facilitated meetings to identify causal factors with associated actions to prevent recurrence. Timely management to address patient grievances associated with quality of care. Actively supports enterprise initiatives related to the implementation of High Reliability principles and serves as immediate resource for assigned departments for identifying opportunities for improvement using industry standard patient safety and health care risk management tools. Actively leads/facilitates projects identified through safety posts, common causes, industry trends or other means. Is an active participant in department meetings and develops strong relationships with key leaders (nursing, physician and operational) throughout the health system.

The Senior Patient Safety Clinical Risk Professional assists peers through the orientation process, leads disclosure conversations with just‑time training with colleagues, and develops strong relationships with key leaders throughout the network.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in nursing, clinical or healthcare related field of study from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Education

• Master's degree in Risk Management, Patient Safety, Healthcare Administration or a related clinical field of study from an accredited college or university.

Experience

• 8+ years of healthcare experience in an acute care setting.
• 6+ years of risk management and/or patient safety experience in an acute care facility.
• 6+ years of clinical experience in an acute care setting.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• Experience in highly complex system may compensate for the years of formal experience listed above. The hiring manager will make this decision.

Certification / Registration / Licensure

• Must have one of the following certifications upon hire:
• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), or
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) from the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM).

Skills or Special Abilities

• Deeper knowledge and understanding of patient safety and/or human factors sciences and/or healthcare risk management.
• Must have understanding of principles of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM); correlates cases to ERM domains.
• Knowledge/experience with Risk Management Information Systems with depth of knowledge in management of assigned events.
• Demonstration of solid leadership skills. Must be self‑motivated, a self‑starter and independent thinker.
• Leads orientation for newer team members hired into the department. Serves as buddy/coach to onboard new team members.
• Leads disclosure conversations with coaching and Just‑In‑Time training for providers, nurses and/or operational leaders in preparing for patient discussions.
• Timely management to address patient grievances associated with quality of care. Provides guidance and support to peers and generalists.
• Must have ability to create and maintain organized, confidential and professionally documented investigative files consistent with department processes. Works with key leaders on cases maintaining levels of communication.
• Ability to prioritize, plan and execute while pursuing various cases or projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrate ability to apply critical thinking and investigative skills in stressful environments.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to professionally communicate with peers, workforce members and executive leadership.
• Must be organized, detail‑oriented.
• Must be able to work effectively as an individual or in an interdisciplinary team setting.
• Must be able to handle stressful environments and apply de‑escalation techniques when needed.
• Must have computer skills that include Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Ability to perform administrative tasks as needed or assigned.
• Must have high degree of flexibility and be able to adapt to fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.
• Must be able to apply professional judgment as needed to prioritize work to achieve a consistent professional written work product and optimal productivity.
• Must be able to establish effective, respectful and collegial working relationships with all internal and external customers including but not limited to patients, physicians, employees, students, volunteers and vendors.
• Excellence in professional etiquette, behavioral standards, dress code, attendance policy and code of conduct will be demonstrated at all times.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, presentation skills, interpersonal skills and professional standards.
• Must demonstrate exceptional clinical judgement and acumen.
• Must have ability to create and maintain organized, confidential and professionally written investigative files consistent with department processes.
• Must have high degree of flexibility due to fast‑paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Supports system‑wide initiatives related to the implementation and sustainment of High Reliability and Just Culture.
• Timely management of Quality‑of‑Care patient Grievances to ensure established regulatory timelines are maintained and assists peers in providing guidance on investigations.
• Receives, manages and investigates all assigned safety posts in Safety Center, assessing for accuracy, severity, and trends, working with local leaders of assigned areas as needed and escalating cases of concern to departmental leadership in a timely manner.
• Develops strong, collegial relationships with stakeholders in assigned areas, provides data and educational information at routine intervals, and rounds weekly on assigned areas to field questions from front‑line staff and validate transmission of shared learnings.
• Coordinates and conducts activities associated with all levels of investigation, independently facilitates Cause Analysis cases, SBAR investigations, and develops an understanding of proactive risk assessment tools such as FMEA.
• Identifies deviations in clinical standards of care and patient rights violations that may have patient safety implications or risk exposure to the hospital, and escalates significant events through appropriate channels across the health system.
• Enter all investigations and reviews in the event tracking log so that department productivity and metrics can be analyzed and trended.
• Conducts Sentinel event, NQF, TDSHS and CMS investigations in accordance with departmental SOPs.
• Contributes and participates in patient safety initiatives for assigned areas and within the division, assisting and contributing to program development with peer group and divisional colleagues, collaborating to meet compliance with project deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Works to maintain or exceed current job expectations and meets established department metrics, providing explanations for variances and identifying actions to correct issues as applicable.
• Communicates professionally and effectively with all levels throughout the health system to ensure optimal uptake of assignments and sharing of information.
• Provides education and/or subject‑matter expertise within the organization as needed or requested; attends meetings, committees, in‑services and/or orientations as needed.
• Participates in the required on‑call schedule, including weekend and holiday huddles to meet departmental and health‑system needs.
• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve external and internal customer satisfaction, makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate to support the overall goals of the department and Parkland Health.
• Stays abreast of developments, advancements, and trends in the field of patient safety and healthcare risk management by attending seminars/workshops, reading journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and maintaining certification or licensure; integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the clinical quality management division, and develops effective internal controls to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans.
• Maintains required licensure.
• Works effectively as an individual and within an interdisciplinary team structure.
• Completes other special projects as assigned.
• Facilitates all activities associated with all levels of investigation for RCA/ACA reviews, performing other forms of investigation such as FMEA, assault allegations, and all other forms of safety and risk investigation.
• Demonstrates command of the foundational elements of a comprehensive enterprise risk management (ERM) program and evaluates risks from the PHHS global perspective.
• Leads and/or participates in additional patient safety initiatives for assigned areas and within the division, collaborating with peers, divisional colleagues and the Patient Safety Manager/Director to ensure compliance with deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Leads projects such as FMEAs or risk assessments for identified vulnerabilities or upon request.
• Maintains comprehensive and appropriate documentation of all projects, investigations and action plans in accordance with Parkland and industry standards.
• Identifies and analyzes the design of jobs, work processes, workflows, etc. for the area and implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency that support the overall goals of the department and Parkland.