Risk Manager

This position supports UCSF Health Stanyan and Hyde Hospitals as well as UCSF Health main campus in support of the Mission, Vision and Values of the organization, promoting high-quality patient care, compliance with applicable policies, patient safety, and patient and family services.  This position works independently and in collaboration with departmental leadership, other UCSF Health Risk Management Staff, Hospital leaders and stakeholders, developing close, strategic and collaborative relationships across UCSF Health.  

This position provides risk advice in a variety of areas, including consent, end-of-life issues, unilateral withdrawal of life prolonging treatment, mandatory reporting, documentation, 5150/5250 hold issues, patient/family/visitor behavior, threat management, adverse event management, patient complaints and grievances, privacy and confidentiality, surgical complications, disclosure of adverse events, discharge and discontinuation of care, elopement and AMA, to name a few. 

This position, along with UCSF Health Risk Management departmental leadership, handles professional liability claims against UCSF Health Stanyan and Hyde hospitals. This position engages in every aspect of claims/litigation handling, from the initial intake and claim submission through resolution and corrective action planning. This position collaborates with Risk Management departmental leadership, the third-party claims administrator and outside counsel, to investigate a claim, research and assist with responding to discovery requests, and may assist with trial preparation as needed. The Risk Manager is responsible for keeping Risk Management departmental leadership updated as well as ensuring that the claims database is updated with claim developments. 

This position will develop and demonstrate knowledge of professional liability standards of care as well as regulatory standards inclusive of Joint Commission, Medicare Conditions of Participation, Title 22, and other California Laws and Regulations.

Department Overview

The primary function of UCSF Health Risk Management Department is to minimize financial exposure to the University arising from professional liability matters through the hospitals and clinics of UCSF Health, inclusive of UCSF Stanyan and Hyde hospitals, and its Affiliates.  The department serves as a resource to all UCSF Health staff/employees regarding risk management issues.  The department is located at 1800 Owens St., Suite 461 in San Francisco. 

The UCSF Risk Manager position is a dynamic fast-paced position with tremendous opportunity for learning, developing and expanding Risk Management skills.  This key position requires attention to detail and critical thinking and strong verbal and written communication skills. The Risk Manager is part of the team that is responsible for defending UCSF Health and its people against claims for medical negligence.  This position affords the opportunity to work with talented and nationally known physicians and other health care providers and to assist them in responding to concerns related to clinical care.  The department works as a team to respond to requests for risk consultations from the UCSF Health work force 24 hours a day.  

This position is ideal for individuals with experience in the legal, risk and/or clinical worlds who want to expand their knowledge base and become an expert in Risk Management in a complex healthcare environment.  Every day is different in the department and there is a broad range of issues and situations that require quick action and response. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in hospital risk management, quality management or claims management program, or comparable experience
• Broad knowledge of risk management and claims management concepts. Ability to apply knowledge in an acute care setting to improve risk management operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the relevant risk management industry, federal, state and local laws and regulations relevant to healthcare. Ability to apply policy knowledge to suggest improvements to risk management 
• Proven project management and customer service skills to effectively manage multiple priorities in a complex, challenging environment. Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility, anticipates and effectively handles change.
• Skills to collaborate within and across departments/locations to coordinate daily risk management activities and resolve problems. Interpersonal skills to maintain professional relationships with peers, patients, multidisciplinary team members, senior management, and assigned staff.
• Proven analytical abilities and problem-solving skills to quickly evaluate complex issues and identify options for resolution. Demonstrates sound judgment.
• Verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate through all mediums and with all groups. Ability to listen actively, persuade, advise, counsel, and influence all levels of staff.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, which includes outside counsel.
• Demonstrated leadership, crisis management, quick thinking, calmness under pressure, creativity, integrity, initiative, flexibility and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.  Discretion, tact and ability to deal with sensitive issues. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Current CA Nursing license and/or CA State Bar license
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM)
• Established ability to organize division operations in an efficient and effective manner through improving risk management processes, procedures, and systems.
• Familiarity with QA standards/processes and Joint Commission requirements.
• Familiarity with Microsoft word, Excel, for use in the development of reports for leadership.