Director Risk and Patient Safety

Job Summary:

The Director of Risk & Patient Safety implements and oversees Virtua’s corporate clinical risk and patient safety management programs. This role proactively evaluates areas of organizational risk, executes strategies and policies which promote patient safety and mitigate risk, and coordinates risk management activities and patient safety efforts at the system level, working collaboratively with colleagues to lead initiatives that impact multiple hospitals, services lines, and departments. 

Position Responsibilities:

Proactively evaluates areas of organizational risk based on internal assessment and external benchmarking; prioritizes areas of improvement to promote patient and colleague safety and decrease liability to the organization.  and implements strategies and policies which promote patient and colleague safety.

Conducts or otherwise obtains analysis of local, state and national risk trends to help develop Virtua’s strategic risk mitigation efforts. Develops statistical and qualitative reports on risk management trends and patterns and communicates this information effectively to appropriate colleagues within the health system.  Conducts and/or oversees proactive risk assessments.

Coordinates with Quality & Safety, General Counsel, Claims & Insurance, Compliance.  Acts as liaison, in collaboration with divisional Risk Safety & Quality, to outside litigation counsel in the management and investigation of filed lawsuits and related litigation processes. Understands the legal components of the risk management industry.

Assists in the development of and upholds Virtua’s Risk Management & Patient Safety Plans, policies and procedures. Collaborates with AVP of Risk, Accreditation, & Patient Safety to develop annual program goals and objectives.

Participates in the investigation and analysis of adverse events, including Serious Safety Events, Precursor Safety Events and near misses. Trends event data, performs common cause analysis on safety events, and evaluates causal analysis action plans for effective mitigation and sustainment.  Tracks, monitors, and facilitates reporting and follow-up on RCA recommendations and compliance. Ensures timely and adequate reporting to internal and external bodies as appropriate.  Oversees management of the Patient Safety Organization (PSO) reporting and data transfer.

Serves as a liaison and promotes compliance with various external regulatory bodies, including NJ DOH, CMS, and The Joint Commission, regarding areas of risk management responsibility, including but not limited to sentinel events and root cause analyses, Safe Medical Devices Act, etc.

Provides education and training to colleagues and leaders across the health system to support a culture of safety and continued learning regarding safety event reporting, causal analysis, high reliability, and risk mitigation in clinical practice, including documentation, reporting, etc.

Provide orientation, ongoing risk management education, and mentoring/support to Risk Safety Managers throughout the system. 

Serves as the organization’s expert resource in risk reduction and keeps abreast of trends in the industry. Participates in committee meetings, subcommittees, etc., as indicated, such Claims Committee, Patient Safety Committee, Medication Safety, Bioethics, nursing practice councils, etc., with a charge of improving quality and safety and to reduce organizational risk.

Builds and maintains trusting relationships with both internal and external customers to enhance communication regarding risk and safety. Able to build business relationships, strategic alliances and partnerships for the benefit of Virtua

Facilitate clinical oversight of Virtua’s occurrence reporting system, in collaboration with IT, by maintaining a comprehensive event reporting plan that establishes policies, educational programs, and reporting methods to the appropriate areas. Directs system maintenance, including but not limited to, system enhancements, reports, and appropriate colleague role / scope.  

Position Qualifications Required:

Required Experience:

Minimum of seven years’ experience in a hospital setting.  Experience as a hospital or health system risk manager/director or patient safety officer/manager role required. Similar position will be considered.

Strong healthcare background in risk management or patient safety.

Strong interpersonal skills: ability to lead groups, build consensus, and communicate effectively with all levels of personnel within and outside the organization.

Excellent writing, speaking, and research skills

Analytical skills and the ability to demonstrate critical thinking

Ability to balance and effectively prioritize numerous projects covering a variety of subject matter.

Required Education:

Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

Training / Certification / Licensure:

Current RN license in NJ required.

Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM), Certified Professional In-Patient Safety (CPPS), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or like certification highly preferred; if not certified upon hire, certification must be obtained no later than 3 years after hire.