ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - CLINICAL RISK MANAGEMENT

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

UW Medicine Clinical Risk Management has an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Director.

The UW Medicine Clinical Risk Management department plans, organizes, and directs clinical risk management activities associated with the delivery of patient care services in UW Medicine, the University schools and other University locations as assigned.  These activities are carried out in active collaboration with leaders of the assigned entity's clinical, quality improvement and patient safety leaders.  The objectives of the program are to:
• Maintain an effective clinical risk management program and information systems that support, complement, and enhance quality improvement, patient safety, and other UW Medicine and University programs and activities.
• Assure that clinical risk management programs meet statutory, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.
• Review contracts, legislation, and regulations as needed.
• Assist Claims Services staff as requested.
• Supervise program staff for assigned UW Medicine entities.

The Associate Director is responsible for directing and implementing all aspects of the clinical risk management services for the UW Medical Center campuses, UW Medicine Primary Care clinic locations, the School of Dentistry, and Hall Health Center, including responsibility for mitigation efforts, medical legal consultation, information integrity, and clinical risk management education programs.  This position reports to the Senior Director, UW Medicine Clinical Risk Management.  The position has indirect reporting relationships to the chief medical officer(s) or equivalent of assigned entities for the purpose of programmatic integration into clinical operations and entity quality improvement and patient safety activities.

The Associate Director also requires high emotional intelligence with the ability to read others and their cues while being self-aware, as well as treating everyone with dignity and respect. For assigned entities, the Associate Director also serves as a resource and partner for grievances related to equitable care, access and outcomes for UW Medicine patients through active collaboration with UW Medicine’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts and works collaboratively with the Investigation and Resolution Specialist.

This position requires the ability to interact effectively with UW Medicine executives, clinical leaders and healthcare professionals regarding sensitive matters involving significant financial and reputation risk to the University.  The Associate Director also interacts directly or supervises the work of others to develop and implement strategies to resolve or mitigate incidents and grievances regarding adverse outcomes of care.  The position requires a thorough understanding of healthcare operations, medical malpractice law, healthcare regulations, and accreditation standards, as well as the ability to apply that knowledge to reduce risk. It also requires the skill necessary to direct and/or facilitate review of adverse events and to negotiate effective resolutions to restore positive patient relations and reduce the risk of litigation or reputational harm to the University.

As the equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) representative for assigned staff, the Associate Director administers and implements the department’s EDI mandate and work plan to provides the unit with a sustainable framework to support a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

System, Event and Liability Management:
• Develops and implements mitigation strategies for medical professional liability exposures in accordance with department procedures, including.
• Directs and provides services to identify and resolve clinical risk management issues associated with adverse patient events in active collaboration with quality improvement, the medical staff office, the Patient Liason, the Investigation & Resolution Specialist, and patient safety programs.
• Participates in event reviews as part of the entity and/or UW Medicine's quality improvement program procedures.
• Develops systems for the regular review of events (incidents) to identify those requiring further investigation, including oversight for the identification of events requiring mandatory reports or reviews to regulatory or accreditation bodies.
• Supervises or formulates and implements investigation plans in collaboration with clinical leaders, quality improvement and patient safety staff members.
• Supervises or analyzes information to support mitigation efforts.
• Supervises or handles the charge waiver process.
• Supervises or identifies events meeting University reinsurance reporting criteria.
• Supervises or maintains records of investigations in accordance with department procedures for record retention.
• Directs the activities of clinical risk managers in handling patient grievances involving harm to restore positive patient relations by identifying and resolving service quality or clinical risk management concerns.
• Maintains effective systems for the regular management of patient complaints and grievances, including the documentation standards.
• Supervises or manages grievances in accordance with entity policies and procedures.
• Manages or directs the handling of licensure-related proceedings on behalf of assigned entities in accordance with entity and University procedures.
• Acts as the primary contact for Claims Services for assigned entity and assist with legal discovery upon request.
• Supervises or provides consultation support to assigned entities regarding medical legal topics such as disclosure of unanticipated outcomes of care, informed consent, termination of patient care, patient rights and end-of-life decisions. Serve on assigned entity-level committees such as quality oversight and grievance committees.
• Plans and delivers regular clinical risk management education programs in collaboration with the department's Assistant Director (Education) to orient the staff of assigned entities to clinical risk management topics.  Develops targeted educational interventions in response to emerging trends or changing law or standards.
• Represent the unit on various Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committees and workgroups.

Clinical Risk Management Supervision and Direction for Assigned Entities:
• Plans, implements, and directs the clinical risk management program at assigned entities and the risk management-related patient relations activities of the UW Medical Center campuses, UW Medicine Primary Care clinic locations, the School of Dentistry, and Hall Health to prevent and reduce liability exposures related to patient care delivery.
• Supervises all risk managers at assigned entities in alignment with department, entity, and University procedures.
• Provides leadership in the development and/or implementation of entity and department risk management policies and procedures.
• Responsible for programmatic accreditation/regulatory compliance with DOH Adverse Event Reporting, TJC Sentinel Event review criteria, FDA Safe Medical Device report criteria, CMS Conditions of Participation, account waivers accomplished in compliance with the False Claims Act, and other regulations and standards as applicable.  Assures that records created by assigned staff are kept and maintained in accordance with department procedures and the relevant record retention schedules.
• Ensures the accurate capture of investigation activity in department information systems in accordance with department procedures and the relevant record retention schedules.  Manages the use of reports from information systems to drive medical malpractice prevention and quality improvement efforts and to provide appropriate education to clinicians to reduce the risk of patient harm.
• Supervises assigned risk managers and directs their work in compliance with the employer's human resources policies and procedures. This position is also responsible for advancing EDI within the unit and as a part of the UW Medicine health system.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare administration, risk management, healthcare or related field.
• Four years of experience managing professional liability events in a healthcare risk management setting and/or professional liability claims/litigation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in mentoring colleagues.
• Experience-based knowledge of medical professional liability exposures and laws, investigation and negotiation techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of Risk Management.
• Effective and professional oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to organize and analyze data and to problem-solve using continuous quality improvement techniques to improve processes and outcomes.
• Demonstrated familiarity and ability to use Word & Excel and similar software products independently.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum requirements.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Three - five years of experience as a clinician or equivalent work experience in a health care setting.
• Three years of experience working with the public to resolve disputes, or equivalent work experience.
• Three - five years of experience developing and using databases to report information.
• Risk Management credentials, such as the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) or Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or certificate program in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM).
• Preferred areas of graduate study include public health, health administration or nursing.
• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Experience coordinating and implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategies.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT
• Hybrid business office environment and remote work arrangement. 

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.