Careers in Quality

Nuvance Health is a family of award-winning nonprofit hospitals and healthcare professionals in the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut. Nuvance Health combines highly skilled physicians, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and compassionate caregivers dedicated to providing quality care across a variety of clinical areas, including Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopedics, and Primary Care.

Director of Risk Management

LOCATION: Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

Purpose: The Director of Risk Management is responsible for the Clinical Risk Management activities at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. The activities include the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of loss exposures. The Director develops and manages a systematic process across all levels of the institution to identify, analyze, and act upon actual and potential exposures to the organization to improve patient safety and protect the organization’s assets. This is accomplished through education and collaboration with managers, executives, and departments.

The span of Control: Risk Managers

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Review all reports of risk incidents on a timely basis and evaluate them to identify actual or potential patient injury, and follow up as necessary.

2. Develop a rounding process, and interact with patients and families on complaints of substandard care, injury, and other concerns in collaboration with nursing, physicians, managers, and Patient Advocates.

3. Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures including, a systematic process to assure that incidents are reported to the appropriate managers and Quality/Patient Safety Committee for process improvement and follow-up.

4. Investigate incidents/adverse events to identify potential or actual claims and report them to the Claims Administrator.

5. Identify trends and risk mitigation opportunities ensuring implementation at all levels of and across the organization.

6. Educate staff and physicians on Risk Management strategies to mitigate loss and improve reporting in a just culture. Develop an education plan in collaboration with Education Department utilizing classroom training, the internet, and other techniques.

7. Collaborate with Quality, Patient Safety, and Patient Advocates and all levels of the organization to assure that incidents are properly reported to regulatory agencies. Participate in committees dedicated to improving patient, employee, and visitor safety and satisfaction. Assist with RCA process when appropriate and/or requested by Quality/Patient Safety.

8. Collect and analyze risk data and complete Risk Management reports to present to the appropriate managers and committees.

9. Direct the collection of information, evaluate requests, and coordinate data release from legal counsel, claims administrator, patients, and other parties.

10. Oversee day-to-day operations within the span of control, resolving problems as necessary, and ensuring that operations are efficient, compliant, safe, and of the highest possible quality. Optimize management structures and workflows within the span of control to continually improve quality and efficiency.

11. Establish annual goals and measures of performance for functions within the span of control, including key financial metrics.

12. Comply with all Nuvance Health and affiliate policies and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

13. Maintain contemporary professional knowledge and education.

14. Demonstrates regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.

15. Performs other duties as required.

Department: Risk Management

Exempt: Yes

EOE, including disability/vets.

We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact Human Resources at 203-739-7330 (for reasonable accommodation requests only). Please provide all information requested to assure that you are considered for current or future opportunities.

Leadership Skill Requirements:

• Action and Results-Oriented: Ability to establish key goals, drive and track results among multiple decision-makers and stakeholders and meet deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Political Savvy and Diplomacy:
o Ability to maneuver through complex, politically charged situations and understand the dynamics and culture of the organization.
o Ability to anticipate problems and negotiate solutions with peers, senior leadership, and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to Build Relationships Through Integrity and Trust:
o Ability to quickly gain the trust and respect of others, drive collaboration, build a teamwork environment, and search for the win/win scenarios.
• Influencing Skills: Ability to lead an organization using influence, rather than possessing the direct authority of others, being sensitive, yet direct in both verbal and written communications.
• Managing Complexity: Ability to lead and drive results in a complex organization, achieving alignment between often conflicting priorities, initiatives, and people.

Functional/Technical Skills Requirements:

• Health Care and HIT Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of operational health care delivery systems and the current health care landscape. Skills and experience with developing competitive business strategies for health care. Skills and experience with the operational aspects of health care technology deployment. Familiarity and comfort with technology-based operational improvement. Health care management or consulting experience preferred.
• Analytics and Strategy: Expertise in developing and executing data-driven approaches to enhancing business decision-making and improving operational performance (preferably in healthcare). Advanced knowledge of business intelligence best practices, familiarity with fact-based management tools and techniques to drive strategies, and continuous improvement culture.
• Communications: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to take abstract, complex, and/or technical information and break it down for a variety of audiences in a meaningful way.
a. Excellent problem-solving skills.
b. Ability to use good judgment in stressful situations.
c. Consistently demonstrates team skills and a sense of humor. Handles face-to-face communication with patients, families, employees, and physicians with sensitivity and empathy.
• Functional Oversight: Issue identification, gap analysis, ability to prioritize business needs, and execute solutions.
• Financial Management: Ability to understand financial reports, develop basic financial models, and identify trends, variances, and opportunities.

 Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare or related field
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of Risk or Quality experience required.
• Strongly prefer licensed Clinical Staff; e.g. RN with Risk Management experience in acute care.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements:
• Excellent skill in de-escalation and conflict resolution
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to multitask with poise and skill.
• Training skills preferred.

License, Registration, or Certification Requirements:

Prefer- Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management CPHRM