Risk Management Specialist

The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics (UI Health) is seeking a Risk Management Specialist to join their team. This position will be responsible for the delivery of clinical risk management and patient safety services within assigned service lines throughout the state-wide University of Illinois clinical patient network and Mile Square Federally Qualified Healthcare Clinics. Risk management and patient safety services, as defined by the American Society for Health Care Risk Management, includes the domains of clinical patient safety, risk financing, legal and regulatory, health care operations, and claims and litigation.

Essential Responsibilities:

Clinical Patient Safety

• Support the organization’s Culture of Safety through contributing to Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of sentinel, serious harm and near miss events. Develop event timelines. Utilize process mapping for RCA meeting presentations. Research evidence based on best practices related to clinical processes. Contribute to development of related process improvement plans with supervision by Senior Risk Manager. Monitor process improvement plans through the organizational quality committee structure. Categorize events and contributing factors and collaborate with related data analysis by Clinical Data Practice Analyst. Assist with development of associated risk education for the organization and within assigned service lines.
• Assist Senior Risk Manager with Critical Incident Debriefing (CID) process through identifying appropriate events for rapid review, initial fact gathering, timeline development and brief case summary.
• Review patient safety events for assigned clinical service lines and assign criteria-based harm and severity ratings. Monitor manager and consultant review of events for closure. Refer appropriate events to the Co-Worker Observation Reporting System (CORS). In consultation with Senior Risk Manager, identify appropriate events to the multi- specialty physician peer review and nursing peer review committees.
• Triage high harm events and refer to Senior Risk Manager. Assist the Senior risk Manager with investigation of these including stabilization of the environment, coordinating witness interviews, record analysis and timeline development, evidence retrieval, and billing management.
• Participation in the Department’s Care For the Caregiver program. Identify and refer staff for peer support. Participate in program training and periodic meetings.
• Assist the Senior Risk Manager with the investigation of events involving potential patient abuse by staff, including facilitating UIC police reporting, witness interviews, recommending administrative leave in consultation with Human Resources, securing video surveillance, ensure mandatory reporting obligations, communicate with patient on investigation progress and facilitate event through closure.
• Participate in National Patient Safety Goal Sub-committees, Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEAs) or other organizational patient safety committees or initiatives. Prepare or assist with reporting to the hospital wide Safety Committee. Maintain awareness of national patient safety initiatives and evaluate for inclusion to the organization’s Safety program.
• Provide Consultation within service lines of potential workplace violence issues. Develop behavioral contracts, warning, and termination letters. Engage with University of Illinois police and internal and external legal counsel as necessary.

Risk Financing

• Refer events to the appropriate University insurance programs that include potential medical malpractice, general liability, workers compensation and property claims.

Legal and Regulatory

• Liaison with Accreditation and Clinical Compliance on regulatory event investigations and periodic accreditation surveys within assigned service lines.
• Assist Senior Risk Manager investigation and resolution of complaints referred from Hospital Compliance complaint database.
• Health Care Operations.
• Participate in risk assessment opportunities.

UI Care: Patient & Employee Service Values

Service Values and UI CARE (Communicate, Acknowledge, Respect, Excel) Standards

Integrity and Service Excellence: Each person is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. One should be sensitive to ethnic, cultural and racial differences. This is emphasized by the UI CARE behavior, Respect: Patients First.

Behavior: Performance is acceptable when everyone is greeted with a smile and a warm and caring manner using the person’s name whenever possible. No matter how I feel, I display a caring attitude. This is demonstrated through my hallway, elevator, and phone etiquette, as well as, my interactions with my peers, co-workers, volunteers, patients, and leaders.

Accountability: Each person displays loyalty and pride in the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System and its associated entities while upholding the confidentiality of patients, visitors, physicians, and co-workers. One should be a role model, be open-minded and collaborate with others. At the same time, one is fully accountable for their actions, and should focus on exceeding expectations. This is emphasized by the UI CARE behaviors: Excel: Accountability & Teamwork and Ownership & Pride.

Behavior: Performance is acceptable when concerns/problems with fellow employees and/or customers are not discussed with anyone other than the person involved or the supervisor. Patient/Employee issues and ideas are listened to and appropriate follow-up occurs to create a satisfied patient, patient family member, or employee/volunteer. I do not make excuses. I do not demean other people or departments. This is demonstrated by me taking full responsibility for my actions regardless of the circumstances.

Innovation: Each person demonstrates commitment to open communication. Every conversation should incorporate the key elements of AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explain and Thank). This will convey courtesy, clarity, and indicate that one is actively listening. One should seek opportunities to manage-up others by highlighting positive situations. This will create an environment of recognition and praise while empowering others to take ownership. At the same time, create an overall welcoming environment. This is emphasized by the UI CARE behaviors Communicate: Talk, Listen, learn and Manage Up. Also, the UI CARE behavior Acknowledge: Reward and Recognize and Make People Feel Welcomed.

Behavior: Performance is acceptable when openness and acceptance of constructive criticism occurs. Positive communication occurs by complimenting and expressing appreciation to others. I will listen and encourage others to express ideas and opinions and support ways to improve UI Health Experience and the evaluation and implementation of new ideas. I will focus on being clear in all of my conversations and interactions by using AIDET at all times. I will focus on making our patients/guests and employees/volunteers feel welcome but managing up others whenever possible.

Safety: Each person demonstrates pride in the physical appearance of UI Health, University of Illinois Hospital and its associated entities as a safe environment. One focuses on keeping the physical environment clean which includes the hallways, elevator, caf, general areas, and one’s personal work area. One also demonstrates pride in their personal appearance. This is emphasized by the UI CARE behavior Respect: Appearance, Courtesy & Environment.

Behavior: Performance is acceptable when initiative is taken to maintain a safe and clean environment. I will conduct myself in a manner that respects and preserves equipment and the physical plant. I do not walk by spills, trash or unsafe conditions while walking the hallways, elevator, caf, general areas and/or my personal area without assuring that they are attended to promptly by myself or appropriate personnel. I will take ownership of my surroundings. I will also focus on managing my personal appearance and body odor by dressing professionally and/or appropriate for my area, grooming appropriately, and my managing personal hygiene.

Requirements include

• Bachelor’s degree required, healthcare related field preferred.
• CPHRM designation preferred or obtained within two years of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in healthcare related field, MBA/MHA preferred.
• Minimum of three years clinical hospital or clinical risk management experience preferred.
• RN licensure in the state of Illinois preferred.
• Two years of clinical risk management experience preferred.

Salary & Benefits:

UI Health offers competitive benefit packages, including: vacation days, paid holidays, Floating Holidays, State University Retirement System, tuition waiver, tuition discount for dependents, and excellent medical, dental, and vision packages.

To Apply:

For fullest consideration, please submit a complete application and supplemental resume by November 15, 2024.

uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/7530?c=uic

The University of Illinois at Chicago/ UI Health is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899