1. Responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the Patient Safefty and Risk Management Department:

a. Receives and reviews computerized adverse event reports and telephone reports of adverse events.

b. Provides advice, consultation and support to hospital and professional staff on legal, risk and ethical issues.

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

d. Maintains the adverse event and case management database, updated regularly.

e. Works closely with the Patient/Family Relations department on legal, risk and patient safety issues.

f. Manages intake of adverse hospital and patient events and event reporting:

* Reviews all adverse event reports to ensure timely and appropriate analysis and follow up

* Refers cases as directed to the CRICO for monitoring, investigation or defense.

i. Assists in review and development of hospital policies.

j. Participates in hospital patient safety initiatives and activities.

k. Keeps abreast of changing legislation, standards and policies that affect risk management.

2. Peer Review and Regulatory Compliance:

a. Identifies sentinel events, coordinates and conducts root cause analyses; collaborates with Patient Safety to monitor resulting corrective actions for effectiveness.

b. Manages reporting of appropriate adverse events to regulatory agencies, including DPH and BRM QPS division, and coordinates unannounced hospital surveys by DPH.

c. Assists with management of database of QA/RM committee case reviews, with conclusions, recommendations and follow through.

d. Identification and development of information related to equipment failures to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements of the Safe Medical Devices Act.

3. Event Analysis:

a. Applies BWH's Equity-informed High Reliability Organization (HRO) concepts as the framework for event analysis, such as, sequence of reliability, continuous improvement, just culture, increased reporting of adverse events and near misses, and increased transparency.

b. Manages review and analysis of adverse event reports and manages follow-up with all significant adverse events. Identifies trends and collaborates with clinical teams to design strategies to prevent medical error and reduce loss.

c. Provides feedback to safety reporters regarding investigations and corrective actions resulting from adverse event reports, as appropriate.

d. Reviews and evaluates aggregate adverse events and claims data, as well as other hospital information in order to identify high-risk activities, procedures and departments.

e. Recommends corrective and preventive actions to reduce risk. Collaborates with CRICO and hospital-based improvement teams on interventions.

e. Continually evaluates hospital adverse event reporting system for potential improvement.

4. Claims Management:

a. Represents the hospital as agent for service of legal process, coordinates activities such as record requests, depositions, etc.

b. Counsels hospital employees as necessary with regard to legal proceedings in which they are professionally involved.

c. Communicates in timely and appropriate manner with CRICO regarding claims issues.

d. Works with Partners Office of General Counsel as necessary.

e. Completes necessary claims paperwork.

f. Provides for accurate entry of new claims/suits into the case management database.

g. Supports hospital initiatives for proactive resolution of potential claims.

h. Provides ongoing support to RMF and hospital counsel in the litigation process: contacts hospital employees for depositions, assists in obtaining answers to interrogatories, requests for production of documents and records from multiple BWH sources.

5. Education:

a. Develops and conducts hospital, departmental and professional risk management education programs.

b. Collaborates with Nurse Managers, Chief Residents and other staff to keep all Hospital personnel informed regarding risk management and patient safety issues.

6. Participates in relevant hospital committees

1. Risk management experience in a healthcare setting preferred
2. Baccalaureate degree required. Baccalaureate degree in nursing or other health care degree preferred. Advanced degree (JD, Masters) preferred.

3. Experience in loss control and claims management preferred

4. Knowledge of medical malpractice and healthcare law preferred.

5. Experience in working with teams in a complex organization.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES

1. Excellent written and verbal skills.

2. Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with clinicians in stressful situations.

3. Basic command of quality improvement techniques.

4. Basic command of data management and analysis.

5. Healthcare terminology

6. Independence with a personal computer.

7. Confidentiality is imperative.

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. Position is hybrid, fast paced office and clinical setting, as well as some remote work at home depending on meeting schedules.

2. Frequent, daily use of computer, telephone, fax machine

3. Infrequent periods of high stress related to sentinel events, planned or unannounced surveys and audits by external regulatory agencies.

4. Must be responsive to multiple deadlines

5. Because this role is in an active change management environment, this role will need to demonstrate flexibility and open mindedness as the contours of this position will actively evolve over time.

supervisory responsibility: None

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: None