Associate Risk Manager - Clinical

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center•Houston, TX

19h•Remote

About The Position

The Associate Risk Manager serves as a self-directed partner to clinical teams, nursing leadership, and healthcare operations within The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Risk Management program. The role independently manages assigned potential and actual claims, incidents, and risk issues from intake through resolution, with a focus on patient safety, patient advocacy, clinical event investigation, and risk mitigation. The incumbent evaluates and prioritizes matters, makes timely decisions with minimal supervision, and escalates issues that exceed delegated authority. The position works with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to investigate adverse events, resolve patient concerns, identify improvement opportunities, and promote a culture of safety. It includes detailed medical-record review, evaluation of potential medical negligence and malpractice matters, claims and incident management, regulatory compliance support, and participation in institutional risk management initiatives. The Associate Risk Manager also supports litigation, contributes to program planning and improvement, conducts educational presentations, and participates in an after-hours on-call rotation. The role is primarily remote, with onsite presence required as needed for meetings and other work. The listed salary range is $88,000 to $132,000, with a midpoint of $110,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 2 years of experience in a hospital or clinical environment.
Ability to independently manage claims, incidents, and risk issues from intake through resolution with minimal supervisory intervention.
Experience reviewing and analyzing medical records.
Strong critical thinking, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with patients, clinical teams, nursing leadership, and operational stakeholders.
Sound judgment in identifying, assessing, and resolving risk issues and determining when to escalate.
Ability to manage complex clinical risk matters and make timely decisions.
Ability to satisfy and maintain requirements necessary to ensure the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, if applicable to the position.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in a health-related field.
Healthcare risk management experience in a large academic medical center, including independent management of a claims or incident caseload.
Experience with patient-safety initiatives, patient advocacy, clinical event investigations, medical malpractice claims management, root cause analysis, healthcare regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, incident reporting systems, emergency management, and business continuity in a complex healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

Provide guidance and consultation to healthcare teams and hospital leadership on patient-care risk management issues.
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks affecting patient safety and quality of care in partnership with clinical teams.
Lead investigations of patient safety events, incidents, complaints, and potential liability matters.
Drive resolution of patient-care concerns and other risk-related issues.
Participate in institutional patient-safety and risk-reduction efforts and serve on committees assessing patient-safety policies and procedures.
Collaborate with Performance Improvement teams on root cause analyses and event reviews.
Participate on the Institutional 2-STOP committee and investigate threats involving patients and employees.
Review incoming reports alleging claims against UT MD Anderson resources, employees, officers, or agents, and review claims, incidents, and reported problems within 24 hours of receipt.
Evaluate complex claims, particularly medical malpractice and medical negligence matters; assign priority ratings and determine next steps.
Determine when investigations are warranted and independently initiate and complete them using correspondence, telephone communications, electronic messaging, and onsite inspections.
Document investigative findings, maintain complete case records, review open files at least every 30 days, and actively move assigned cases toward resolution.
Recognize matters exceeding delegated authority and promptly escalate them with a recommended course of action.
Review medical records, billing records, consultant reports, witness statements, project files, and correspondence; identify risk issues and prepare case summaries and event chronologies.
Identify key events, witnesses, and participants; develop litigation files and timelines for attorneys handling institutional claims.
Identify patient medical-record portions to submit to the UT Office of General Counsel under established guidelines and provide information to designated negotiators and legal representatives.
Negotiate settlements only within authority delegated by the Managing Legal Officer, People Education & Operations.
Maintain working familiarity with medical committee and peer review privileges and quality protections.
Support compliance with The Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, Texas Medical Board, Texas Board of Nursing, HIPAA, EMTALA, and Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 74 requirements.
Prepare Safe Medical Device Act reports within required timeframes and review reports submitted through the institutional incident reporting system.
Maintain and organize physical and electronic risk management files and manage retention of reports, correspondence, photographs, equipment records, notes, and other case materials.
Apply emergency management and business continuity principles in risk management activities.
Contribute to institutional risk assessments and Risk Management program planning; lead special projects and prepare special reports and analyses as requested.
Conduct educational presentations throughout UT MD Anderson and assess healthcare risk management trends through continuing education, literature review, and professional development.
Participate in the Risk Management on-call program, independently responding to after-hours risk issues as part of a 24-hour coverage rotation.
Collaborate with Risk Management, Patient Care, and Healthcare Operations support teams and recommend and help implement improvements to institutional policies, processes, and procedures.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical coverage starting on day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
Accruals for paid time off and an Extended Illness Bank.
Paid holidays and wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
Access to wellness and fitness resources and employee resource groups.
Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
Voluntary retirement plans.
Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.