Overview

Description

The Clinical Risk Manager supports Emory Healthcare's system-wide risk management and patient safety programs by identifying, investigating, and mitigating clinical and operational risks across all care settings.

This role leads the disclosure and apology process for serious adverse events, collaborates with clinical and operational leaders to reduce harm, and ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

The position develops and maintains risk reduction strategies, policies, and education; analyzes safety and claims trends; and provides expert consultation on potential liability and patient safety concerns.

The role also participates in committees, supports regulatory reporting and product/device safety, and provides 24/7 on-call support for urgent safety issues.

Risk Identification & Mitigation:

1. Lead and manage the system-wide clinical risk management program, assessing institutional risks, adverse events, and near misses
2. Investigate and analyze actual and potential risks; recommend and implement mitigation and loss prevention strategies
3. Manage and evaluate safety and claims trend data to minimize economic and patient impact

Event Response & Disclosure:

1. Coordinate and coach teams through the disclosure and apology process following serious adverse events
2. Ensure timely internal investigations, notifications to claims, and follow-up actions aligned with just culture principles
3. Serve as a primary advisor to providers and leaders on incident response, potential claims, and legal exposure

Policy, Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:

1. Develop, review, and revise risk management and patient safety policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and accreditation standards
2. Monitor regulatory updates and communicate requirements to leadership and medical staff
3. Reporting to state and federal agencies, as needed

Education, Consultation & Culture Building:

1. Design and deliver system-wide education on risk management, disclosure, and patient safety topics
2. Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous learning consistent with Emory's Care Transformation Model and just culture framework
3. Serve as a consultant to departments, providers, and claims/legal teams on risk reduction and patient safety strategies

Collaboration, Leadership & Operational Support:

1. Partner with Quality, Patient Safety, Legal, Compliance, Public Safety, Clinical and Operational leaders to align risk management goals with system priorities
2. Actively participate in system committees and initiatives to strengthen patient safety and risk prevention
3. Provide 24/7 on-call coverage and support for urgent clinical and non-clinical safety issues across all EHC entities

Additional Duties as Assigned

Travel: Travel between Operating Units or Emory affiliated locations

Work Type: Hybrid employee - splits time between working remotely and working in the office

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Law, Risk Management, Healthcare Quality, Social Work or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of healthcare experience
• A Juris Master (JM) or Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) in Health Law, Healthcare Compliance, or related legal discipline in lieu years of healthcare experience
• Licensure - If Registered Nurse with BSN, must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program and must have a valid, active unencumbered Nursing license approved by the Georgia Licensing Board

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required):

1. Clinical Risk Management Expertise - Knowledge of patient safety principles, event investigation, disclosure and apology practices, and just culture frameworks
2. Regulatory & Medical-Legal Knowledge - Understanding of state/federal regulations, accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission), safe medical device reporting, and medical-legal risk concepts
3. Analytical & Critical Thinking Skills - Ability to assess adverse events, interpret safety and claims data, identify trends, and recommend effective risk mitigation strategies
4. Strong Communication & Facilitation Skills - Ability to coach providers through difficult conversations, lead multidisciplinary reviews, and prepare clear documentation and reports
5. Collaboration & Relationship-Building - Skilled in working with physicians, clinical and operational leaders, Quality & Patient Safety, Legal, and external agencies
6. Organizational & Operational Skills - Ability to manage multiple high-risk events, investigations, regulatory deadlines, and system-wide initiatives concurrently

Preferred Qualifications Experience:

• Previous healthcare risk management or professional liability experience
• Certification - Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) or eligibility to obtain certification

Preferred Skills, Abilities, & Knowledge:

1. Experience with healthcare incident reporting and claims management systems (e.g., RLDatix, RiskMaster, Press Ganey HRP)
2. Demonstrated experience conducting complex adverse event investigations, root cause analyses, or patient safety reviews
3. Prior leadership or committee participation in patient safety, quality improvement, or risk management programs
4. Experience collaborating with legal counsel and applying medical-legal principles in clinical settings

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally) Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.