POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Risk Management Specialist provides leadership in risk management by promoting the highest level of quality care to the patients, ensuring regulatory compliance and mitigating malpractice risk through loss prevention.
The Senior Risk Management Specialist is responsible for participating in the development, implementation, and coordination of a highly visible, proactive institution-wide program to maximize the safety of services delivered to BMC patients. As a leader in Quality and Patient Safety, this individual serves as a departmental and organization-wide role model displaying behaviors that support a strong culture of safety.
This hybrid position requires onsite presence 3 days a week and on-call coverage each month.
Position: Senior Risk Management Specialist
Department: Risk Management
Schedule: Full Time
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:
Collaborates with QPS leadership, the Chief Quality Officer, Director of Risk Management and the Director of Patient Safety to support the Quality and Patient Safety Program by being a resource for areas such as error detection and prevention, and facilitating Root Cause Analysis (RCA) projects.
Collaborates in ongoing regulatory readiness activities and functions as a member of the onsite survey management team during regulatory surveys by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Demonstrates expertise in investigating and analyzing actual and potential patient/visitor safety events (near-misses) for improvement opportunities and for the potential for legal action.
Activities include, but are not limited to: chart review, staff/provider interviews, policy review, best practice research, and observation activities.
Coordinates risk and safety management training for providers, management, and staff to enhance awareness of their role in patient safety, risk reduction, and safety event reporting.
Participates in the “on call” system to provide immediate consultation, recommendations and mitigation to hospital staff in responding to adverse events.
Utilizes an electronic database for tracking patient safety events.
Participates in activities to use this database to identify trends and opportunities to improve patient safety.
Facilitates case management of the incident reporting system.
Actively collaborates with Quality and Patient Safety staff to identify and mitigate local and organizational trends that impact patient safety and to support implementation of safer processes and systems of care.
Actively collaborates with Claims Department to assist BMC efforts to minimize legal/financial liability.
Interacts with wide variety of personnel throughout BMC including administration, clinicians, staff, senior management and Department Chairpersons.
Actively participates in clinical case review and case learning committees.
Facilitates committee operations as assigned.
Demonstrates expertise in drafting reports for regulatory agencies.
Mentors Risk Management Specialists in all aspects of work responsibilities.
Help to ensures compliance with various codes, laws, rules and regulations concerning patient care, including those mandated by state, federal agencies and compliance with the Joint Commission risk management standards.
Demonstrates current knowledge of legislative and regulatory activities related to patient safety and health care risk management.
Assists in the development, maintenance and revision of policies and procedures to improve patient safety and minimize loss exposure.
Ensures policies and procedures meet all regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Develops and presents educational sessions on patient safety and professional liability risk reduction to physicians and management.
Assists clinical chairs and department chiefs to design patient safety and risk management programs specific to their individual areas.
Periodically reports on risk management matters and prepare reports for various quality committees and boards.
Responsible for ensuring that all information necessary to prepare for the defense of claims is collected and properly maintained in a timely manner, including the preparation of reports of investigation.
Helps to meet the needs of the Director of Claims in his/her efforts to manage claims and potential claims.
Provides consultation to Patient/Family Relations (PFR) to mitigate risk associated with patient/family complaints.
Supports Manager, Risk Management in all regulatory activities associated with operations of the Patient Care Assessment Plan and Serious Reportable Events for DPH and Board of Registration in Medicine (BORM).
Other duties as assigned by Manager, Risk Management or Executive leadership, Quality and Patient Safety.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree required.
Advanced degree (i.e.,JD, master's) preferred.
Concentration in nursing, science or other healthcare related field required
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
CPHRM preferred at hire; required within 2 years, CPPS and/or CPHQ preferred.
RN Preferred
EXPERIENCE:
With CPHRM or RN certification - Requires 7 years of clinical care/healthcare experience.
Minimum of 3 years in risk management/patient safety/quality improvement.
Without certification - Requires 10 years of clinical care/healthcare experience, and in risk management/patient safety.
Minimum of 7 years' relevant work experience in risk management required in lieu of degree/license.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSA):
Risk management or related experience in a healthcare setting required; knowledge of medical malpractice, healthcare law, healthcare terminology.
Must have interpersonal skills necessary to deal effectively with a administrative and clinical leadership, staff, clinical chairpersons, and other healthcare professionals
Ability to effectively interview individuals and groups from diverse professional backgrounds
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle matters of sensitive nature
Ability to collect event information and organize into a coherent narrative
Highly self-motivated. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to work deadlines
Ability to inspire trust and be seen as someone who provides support and assistance
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent presentation skill including ability to speak before large audiences and prepare and provide presentations
Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office; ability to learn new computer applications such as adverse event reporting software (RL Solutions).
Occasionally needed to work irregular hours or additional hours for on-call purposes
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability as role may evolve in a changing environment
Compensation Range:
$97,500.00- $141,500.00This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.
NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans
According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or “apps” job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Advanced degree (JD or Master's)
- Concentration in nursing, science, or other healthcare-related field
- CPHRM certification (preferred at hire; required within 2 years)
- CPHRM at time of hire
- CPPS and/or CPHQ certification
- Registered Nurse (RN) license
- With CPHRM or RN: 7 years clinical care/healthcare experience required
- Minimum of 3 years in risk management/patient safety/quality improvement
- Without certification: 10 years clinical care and risk management/patient safety experience
- Minimum of 7 years relevant risk management experience in lieu of degree/license
- Knowledge of medical malpractice, healthcare law, and healthcare terminology
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Experience with adverse event reporting software (RL Solutions) and Microsoft Office
- Ability to participate in monthly on-call coverage and occasionally work irregular/additional hours
Boston Medical Center (BMC) Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Boston Medical Center (BMC) and has not been reviewed or approved by Boston Medical Center (BMC).
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Pay Growth & Progression — Recent union agreements delivered significant raises for nurses and many non‑RN groups, lifting pay levels in those cohorts. Feedback suggests these structured increases improved satisfaction for roles covered by the contracts.
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Affordable Benefits — An option for a no‑premium medical plan, strong pharmacy discounts, and low‑cost same‑day care position healthcare as cost‑effective. Additional programs like diabetes support and coaching further reduce out‑of‑pocket burden.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time staff receive a large PTO bank that grows over time and extended parental leave for birth or adoption. Colleagues also have access to emergency child and elder care supports and childcare discounts.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) Insights
What We Do
Boston Medical Center, located in Boston’s historic South End, is a private, not-for-profit, 567-bed, academic medical center and the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine. Recognized for its high-quality, nationally ranked and comprehensive medical care for the entire family, patients have access to the most current treatment and advancements at BMC. BMC physicians lead the way in pioneering new therapies that impact the care of patients locally and worldwide. In 2013, BMC made the decision to invest in a four-year campus redesign that includes additions to buildings, upgrades to existing structures, and an expansion of the Emergency Department. Once completed, the redesign will provide clinical workspaces with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to solve BMC's most pressing care delivery needs. Already complete, the hospital’s Shapiro Center is Boston’s newest outpatient care facility and features a quarter-million square feet of clinic space, key support services, one of the region’s most technologically advanced pharmacies, and a bright, spacious café. Housed in a facility that provides world-class, patient-centered care at every visit, BMC doctors are among the best in their field. Many are recognized annually as “Top Doctors” in their medical and surgical specialties by publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Boston magazine. Boston Medical Center is also the largest safety net hospital in New England and extends into the community as a founding partner of Boston HealthNet, a network of 15 community health centers throughout Boston serving more than a quarter million people annually. No matter whom you meet at BMC, all are committed to providing every patient and family member with the highest quality of care, respect, warmth and compassion.
