Director Patient Safety and Risk Management

Are you looking to make a difference by improving the health of our patients? Here you will find an innovative culture that is patient-focused and dedicated to making a difference. We are committed to helping the population we serve, and our communities, achieve optimum health and enjoy the best quality of life possible.

Under the direction of the VP-Quality & Patient Experience, the Director of Patient Safety and Risk Management provides direct, day-to-day operational leadership for the development, implementation and evaluation of risk management and patient safety initiatives within the Bassett Healthcare Network. The Director is responsible for identifying, planning, designing, measuring, monitoring and improving risk management and patient safety processes to enhance the culture of safety, proactively reduce the incidence of patient and staff harm, and minimize the reputational, financial and legal liability of the organization.

The Director collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary and executive leadership teams to facilitate continuous improvement in the safety of care and the quality of services provided throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network. The Director develops processes to analyze and report patient safety, risk management and patient grievance data. The Director supports compliance with federal and state regulations and applicable accrediting agencies. Provides education and oversight of educational activities related to risk, safety, Just Culture principles, regulatory compliance, and facilitates immediate process improvements to minimize harm and to avoid repeat events in response to significant risk/safety events. The Director works with network colleagues to ensure policies and processes are consistent, effective, and efficient while ensuring the national standards and the best practices of a high reliability organization are utilized. The Director leads recruitment, orientation, and ongoing development of the network Risk Management Team and provides oversight of safety and regulatory training for staff members of the organization, including those required by ACGME.

• Program Oversight:
  • Develops and accomplishes objectives, strategies and tactics for patient and staff safety and patient grievance programs. Institutes corrective actions and/or makes modifications to safety and grievance plans.
  • Oversees and maintains departmental structures, operating procedures and staffing to meet needs for network services.
  • Prioritizes, organizes, delegates and coordinates department activities to accomplish departmental goals and organizational objectives.
  • Develops and implements systems, processes and policies for the identification, collection and analysis of risk, safety, and patient grievance data.
  • Organizes and implements the Risk Management and Patient Representative Services in a manner that supports the strategic goals of the Bassett Healthcare Network.
  • Trends and analyzes risk management measures and complaint and grievance measures; reports trended data to the governing body, appropriate committees, departments, and leaders.
  • Provide patient feedback and risk management information on medical and allied health staff to Medical Staff Leadership for the purpose of OPPE and FPPE.
  • Maintains regulatory knowledge specific to EMTALA, NYPORTS, OMH and restraint use; provides education regarding regulations.
  • Responds to state inspections and regulatory audits and reviews.
  • Completes annual patient safety and risk management report.
  • Participates and collaborates in network committees and projects.
  • Leads RCA and safety event investigations.
  • Effectively manages staffing resources, promotes team building, and invests in individual staff development.
  • Identifies events with potential for liability, minimizes legal and reputational exposure, and ensures notification of medical malpractice carrier of safety events.
  • Prepares & provides department reports for network quality committees.
• Communication:
  • Communicates with all leaders, practitioners and staff members of the organization regarding safety issues and regulatory concerns, utilizing timing corresponding with regulatory requirements.
  • Responsive to calls received in consultation and risk management consult availability 24/7.
  • Interviews staff regarding safety occurrences using cognitive interview techniques.
  • Displays excellence in written and verbal communications.
  • Serves as liaison with Legal Affairs, OMH, DOH, CMS and medical malpractice provider.
• Accountability:
  • Accepts responsibility for all aspects of leadership.
  • Provides oversight of safety and grievance programs.
  • Acts proactively to identify potential and actual risks to patient and staff safety, identifies underlying causes and takes corrective action.
  • Analyzes and identifies root cause patterns and trends, initiates corrective actions.
  • Facilitates development of departmental staff in areas of professional growth and Department success.
  • Conducts proactive assessments of critical safety processes and makes recommendations to ensure safety is prioritized.
  • Assists with investigations in cases of legal action.
  • Responsible for the timely submission of NYPORTS.
  • Develops and/or contributes to the development of reports for outside agencies such as DOH, OMH, DNV and TJC.
  • Collaborates with network leadership and staff as needed in relation to patient and staff safety, policy development, regulatory compliance, and safety projects.
  • Ensures ECRI and TJC Sentinel Event Alert safety gap analyses are completed with corresponding corrective actions completed.
  • Plans, administers, implements and distributes culture of safety surveys; assists leaders in developing corrective action plans.
• Fiscal Responsibilities:
  • Completes Patient Safety/ Risk Management Department budget according to guidelines provided by Finance.
  • Monitors expenses and resource utilization and takes corrective action with budget variances.
  • Employs benchmarking in determining resource needs and utilization.
  • Provides data for annual insurance renewal; maintains safety processes to allow the organization to remain competitive in the malpractice market.
• Education:
  • Engages in continuous learning regarding patient safety, risk, quality improvement and leadership.
  • Facilitates, plans and provides education regarding safety, Just Culture and RCA.
  • Facilitates plans and provides safety education specific to ACGME requirements.
  • Educates practitioners, leadership, and organization staff regarding the risk management and patient grievance programs and processes.
  • Facilitates education of department staff.
• Performs other duties as requested and observed by supervisor or manager.

Education:

• 4 year / Bachelor's Degree, Bachelor's of Nursing, required.
• Master's Degree In Healthcare Field, preferred.
• 2 year / AS or BNS in Nursing, required.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years experience in a hospital/healthcare setting, required.
• Minimum 5 years of the above experience at a management level, required.
• Minimum 5 years experience and proven skills in project management, team building, required.
• Minimum 5 years experience leading people (direct and indirect leadership roles); demonstrated people development results, required.

Licensure/Certification:

• Valid NYS Driver's License, required.
• NYS Registered Professional Nurse Licensure, required.
• Lean certification, preferred.
• CRHRM and CPPS certifications within 3 years of hire, required.

Skills:

• Analysis & Evaluation
• Leadership
• Manage People
• Self-Motivated
• Problem Solving
• Reading/Writing/Comprehension
• Decision Making
• Critical Thinking
• Team Building
• Computer Skills

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 lbs of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking or standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Occasional balancing, lifting, reaching, standing, walking.
• Frequent repetitive motion, talking.
• Constant typing/clerical/dexterity, hearing, seeing/monitor/computer use.

Travel:

• Occasional Travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis.

Bassett Healthcare Network’s commitment to our employees includes benefit programs carefully designed with the needs and values of all our employees in mind. Many of the benefits we offer are paid fully or in large part by Bassett. Our generous benefits offerings include:

• Paid time off, including company holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Life insurance and disability protection.
• Retirement benefits including an employer match.
• And more

Specific benefit offerings may vary by location and/or position.

Salary is based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training, and fair market evaluation based on industry standards. The above compensation range represents a good faith belief of the compensation range by Bassett Healthcare Network, and its entities and affiliates, at the time of this posting or advertisement.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition), age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), genetic predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status protected by law.