SENIOR 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.

The School of Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Director, Clinical Risk Management.

The Senior Director plans, organizes, directs, and implements clinical risk management services for UW Medicine and Health Sciences schools in coordination with the UW Medicine Chief Medical Officer, Associate Chief Medical Officer, entity medical directors and other executive leaders of UW Medicine entities and health sciences schools. This position also works in active collaboration with the Director, Risk Financing and Consulting, and the Director, Clinical Risk Financing, in support of the University’s risk financing and claim management efforts. The Senior Director supervises the work of the Directors of Risk Management and their teams and develops, implements, and maintains a regional system of clinical risk management services.

This position 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. The Senior 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.

The Senior Director must have extensive working knowledge of the complexities and the clinical risks associated with healthcare delivery in an academic healthcare system, as well as knowledge of relevant regulatory and accreditation standards and requirements. In addition to supervising the Directors of Clinical Risk Management, this position supervises the interfaces of the drug diversion prevention and patient non-discrimination programs with the clinical risk management staff. As the primary equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) representative for the unit, the Senior Director administers and implements the unit’s EDI mandate and support activities and special projects to implement a work plan that provides all administrative divisions within the unit with a sustainable framework to support a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment. The position also supervises the department’s operations (budgets and human resources), the legal proceedings consultation program, and the department’s handling of public record requests.

The nature of the work done by this position is highly sensitive in nature and could result in significant financial and/or reputational loss to the University, UW Medicine, or the health sciences schools. In addition, the lack of knowledge about or application of the relevant healthcare statutes, regulations or accreditation standards, and nuances of liability insurance coverages could result in adverse regulatory or accreditation actions and/or extensive costs related to exposures. Maintain and actively contribute to a climate of inclusion and belonging which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of highly committed and skilled individuals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan and implement the clinical risk management program:
• Implements strategies and procedures to restore positive patient relations following harm events, including the Communication and Resolution Program and Early Claims Transition processes.
• Develops or participates in the development of clinical risk management, risk reduction, and patient safety policies and initiatives and facilitates coordination between entities as necessary to promote standardization.
• Directs the investigation and mitigation of clinical events resulting in adverse outcomes and potential liability exposure and ensures the reporting of Circumstances to Claim Services.
• Directs and implements clinical risk management education and consulting services.
• Directs and oversees the management of human resources and the department budget.
• Directs and oversees the professional, operational, financial, and personnel activities associated with advancing EDI within the unit and as a part of the UW Medicine health system.
• Oversees the integration of the Drug Diversion Prevention program with clinical risk management objectives.
• Oversees Legal Proceedings Consulting program.
• Oversees public records response activity.
• Administers the License-related Proceedings policies for the practice plans and collaborates with Claim Services in the management of license-related matters for UW Medicine trainees and staff compliance with relevant University policies.
• Develops and implements clinical risk management programs for clinical research in coordination with the Human Subjects Division, UW Medicine, and health sciences leaders.
• Provides programmatic support to the Valley Medical Center’s risk management and patient relations staff.
• Ensures that charge waivers are managed and tracked in compliance with law and UW Medicine policy, including MMSEA compliance.

Oversee healthcare risk management information system:
• Coordinate use across entities and disciplines including clinical risk management, patient relations, quality improvement, UW Medicine Compliance, and Claim Services.
• Responsible for the overall system design, maintenance, deployment, and use of the risk management information system throughout UW Medicine and the School of Dentistry.
• Support risk identification, management, and mitigation of healthcare-related risks.
• Co-manage the UW Medicine event reporting software
• Facilitate information system management and security in in coordination with IT Services to ensure compliance with state and federal law and UW and UW Medicine policies.
• Facilitate and manage the integration of the risk management information system with other quality improvement and patient safety databases.

Coordinate clinical risk management efforts:
• Direct staff to provide comprehensive pre-claim investigations of clinical events.
• Coordinate with UW Compliance & Risk Services and initiatives, which includes Claim Services.
• Manage process for identifying Circumstances to report to University’s reinsurers.
• Manage process for identifying appropriate events for Early Claims Transition.

Representative for UW Medicine’s Clinical Risk Management program:
• UW Medicine-level committees, including quality improvement, compliance, and enterprise records and health information committees.
• Professional organizations such as the American Society of Health Care Risk Managers (ASHRM), the Washington Society for Health Care Risk Managers (WHCRMS), the WA CRP Alliance, the Vizient Risk Management Network, and other societies and professional organizations.
• Participate and represent the unit on various equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) committees and workgroups.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s Degree in business management, risk management, healthcare, law, or related field.
• Minimum of five years’ experience directing and/or managing clinical risk management programs.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in professional liability.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a leadership role with direct management of subordinate employees.
• Experience-based knowledge of the operation of health care organizations and delivery systems.
• Proven ability to coordinate and communicate effectively.
• Proven ability to organize and analyze data, problem-solve, and use continuous quality improvement techniques to improve processes and outcomes.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of Risk Management and Quality Improvement methodologies.
• Evidence of experience and progressively increasing responsibility in health care administration and clinical risk management.
• Demonstrates knowledge, understanding and maintains confidentiality of employee information and medical center strategic plans and initiatives, financial information or other sensitive materials and information in printed, electronic, or verbal form, which may jeopardize employee rights or organization’s operations.
• Accesses and uses the minimum necessary employee and organization information to perform job responsibilities and duties and only for authorized purposes.

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

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• MSN, RN, or JD.
• Working knowledge of the Washington State Public Records Act and its implications for quality improvement records.
• Experience coordinating and implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategies.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
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.