Collaboration with organizational leadership and safety partners to proactively identify clinical risks and implement mitigation efforts to eliminate harm in healthcare
Applied the principles of high reliability organizing in collaborating with site leadership, Patient Safety Specialists, Quality Improvement, medical staff, and others to help implement and monitor Clinical Risk Management Program and Plan
Successfully applied identification of clinical risk and safety trends and recommendations made for action plans to mitigate risks to patients, staff, and organization
Evaluated, comprehensively reviewed, and analyzed medical records and patient documentation to identify actual or potential clinical risks in the institution
Provided expertise on potential and realized claims against the organization and collaborated with the malpractice claims team to develop resolution strategies
Provided guidance and evaluation to Patient Experience team in review of patient complaints and grievances to identify possible medical negligence or identified risk to the organization and establishing an appropriate action plan and response to patients and families
Evaluated and provided recommendations to financial business partners regarding patient/insurance billing in response to adverse events
Led empathetic, direct, and prompt communication with patients and families following adverse events
Key partner in investigation and developing action plans for patient safety and to come to a fair resolution with patients and families
Supported the healthcare system in maintaining compliance with accreditation and risk management related standards
Analyzed hospital policies and procedures for compliance with state and federal rules, regulations or standards in collaboration with Quality, Compliance, Privacy, Legal and Enterprise Risk and recommended changes
Incorporated regulatory rules and standards into periodic clinical risk assessments to decrease risk exposure and ensure regulatory compliance
Supported medical staff in dealing with complex patient situations and in resolving issues within applicable state laws, federal regulations, and other regulatory requirements, thereby enhancing patient care and safety
Clinical Risk Manager
PeaceHealth-Oregon Network
07.2021 - 10.2023
Coordinated and administered risk identification, investigation, and reduction monitored risk functions and performed risk surveys to assess loss potential
Supported and ensured the implementation of the system risk management strategies
Daily collaboration and partnership with Patient Safety, Medical Staff, clinical leaders, and Quality team in review of incident reporting to manage, respond to events, and improve patient safety
Performed investigations and response to events, potential claims, and grievances presented against caregivers, physicians and the organization for liability and damages
Investigate missing/damaged belonging cases for the hospital and propose sustainable quality efforts to minimize the likelihood of future loss of property
Managed and collaborated with clinical and non-clinical teams to initiate reviews and response to patient and family/caregiver concerns, comments, requests for service, complaints, and grievances with any aspect of their health care experience in a timely and comprehensive manner
Record and collect documents and evidence and maintains work product in accordance with legal requirements and sets up claim
Ensures collaboration and mitigation of risk to the organization's insurance coverage against liability and casualty loss
Collaborated with patient safety, medical and departmental caregivers to ensure timely risk management review and management of serious patient events and medical errors
Facilitated and/or co-facilitated the review of variances rising to a Sentinel Event, State and/or Federal regulatory reporting and directs the communication of unanticipated events to patients and potential compensable events
Provided clinical risk management guidance in safety stops including disclosure of unanticipated events
Represented Risk Management team on Ethics Committee, Environment of Care, Action Response Team, Pharmacy, Safety, Patient and Family Advisory Team, and other assigned committees
Investigation of alleged abuse and EMTALA violations
Ensured that applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements are met in a proactive manner
Participated in development of processes/systems designed to share and recognize performance improvements and compliance across the organization to mitigate risks to patient and caregiver safety/risks to the organization
Facilitated teams related to system-wide approaches for risk mitigation
Supported competency development in risk management for community-based resources
Design training curriculum, develop program content and provide education to leadership teams, quality leaders, supervisors, and staff
Developed and communicated with senior management on appropriate responses to risk events and medical care complaints in accordance with legal requirements
Served as a liaison and analytical person in providing guidance for enterprise risk prevention for new clinical services, programs, and equipment
Partnered in FMEA study with Patient Safety in RCA meetings for serious reportable events
Managed and immediately responded as 24/7 on-call Risk Manager covering the entire Network, which included 4 hospitals and multiple clinics
Developed contingency plans to minimize impact of unexpected events on business operations
Shared lessons learned from past experiences with colleagues through presentations or written materials as part of continuous improvement efforts
Supervisor of Patient Access and Financial Counseling
PeaceHealth
05.2016 - 07.2021
Led, mentored, and developed a Patient Access team to foster a culture of service excellence, exceptional customer service, and high efficiency in a fast-paced hospital and outpatient environment
Responsible for the selection, training, performance, and scheduling of assigned staff
Monitors overall services, developing quality and performance indicators, gathering data for analysis as well as ensuring continuous improvement to optimize patient care and stewardship of resources with patient access
Managed day-to-day work of Patient Access and registration for all surgical, inpatient, cardiovascular, and outpatient testing for RiverBend Medical Center
Strong partnership and collaboration with clinical leaders to evaluate workflow efficiency, resources, equipment, and expenditures
Led process improvement and recommendations for enhancements, purchases, streamlining related processes and procedures
Successfully audited KPI measures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, policies/procedures and departmental standards relating to HIPAA and other government requirements
Provided 24/7 on call resources and support s to ensure adequate staffing, safety, and urgent problem-solving needs
Initiative-taking in hiring process, proactively monitored team members to evaluate performance and ensure team accountability
Implemented performance improvement plans to develop staff, providing meaningful and constructive feedback
Managed inpatient valuables to include storing, and return of all patient valuables for inpatients and key stakeholders in patient belongings policy and procedure
Tracked and analyzed reports covering budgets, operational activities, and department metrics
Monitored team schedules and delegated tasks to ensure efficiency
Worked with cross-functional departments to maximize productivity and performance
Risk Management Analyst
PeaceHealth
01.2011 - 11.2015
Successfully triaged, analyzed, and escalated all electronic incident report (EIR) data for a multi-hospital network
Content expertise for the EIR system to identify trends and which promoted process improvements through collaboration with colleagues in quality
Participation in policy and forms design and contributions for the identification and mitigation of risks
Managing confidential information in relation to litigation, patient concerns, and incident reporting in a manner that protects both patient confidentiality and organizational privacy
Daily management and response to patient complaints/grievances in compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation
Provided exceptional customer service by rounding and responding to patients and guests in all designated departments for all patient and family concerns
Created and presented orientation materials on risk mitigation education and incident reporting for all new caregivers to organization including leadership, medical staff, and clinical and non-clinical teams
Represented Risk Management team on weekly and monthly Safety Committee, Breach Team, Document Advisory Team, and Policy Review Team
Release of Information (ROI) Analyst
PeaceHealth
01.2003 - 01.2011
Perform a variety of complex tasks within the context of Release of Patient Health Information
Assist with Entire Legal Health Record process as well as direct team participation on the EMR report
Collaborate and mentor other departments, staff, and offices within the scope of ROI
Public speaking and staff training for ROI
Direct work on policies and procedures
Manage and provide technical support for all Patient Connection Registration for PeaceHealth
Health Records Specialist
PeaceHealth
01.1998 - 01.2003
Delivery and processing of medical records to various areas of the hospital, data entry, filing, release of information, knowledge of medical terminology, customer service, reception, birth certificates, typing and computer skills, ability to perform multiple tasks within a limited time, organizational and time management skills
Program & Evaluation Team
Jasper Mountain- SAFE Center
01.1995 - 01.1998
Managed and led staff in residential and evaluation treatment facilities for emotionally disturbed and abused children
Supervised, trained, interviewed, hired, supported, and provided feedback directly to treatment team; tracking of daily documentation; crisis management and intervention
Assisted in oversight of all program functions and routines directly related to on-line staff and residential clients
Provided insight and information to therapists regarding treatment plans and clinical and family assessments; led staff and family meetings
Established a safe and therapeutic environment through positive behavioral support, teaching self-help skills, supervision of children, therapeutic and crisis interventions, planning and implementing daily activities and providing a structured living environment
Timeline
Clinical Risk Specialist - Samaritan Health Services