Senior Clinical Risk Management

Denver Health and Hospital Authority•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Senior Clinical Risk Manager supports Denver Health’s system-wide risk management program by identifying, investigating, and mitigating clinical and operational risks across all care settings. The role leads investigations and reporting of significant health events, collaborates with clinical and operational leaders to reduce harm, and ensures compliance with regulatory and insurance requirements. It develops and maintains risk-reduction strategies, policies, and educational programs; analyzes trends; and provides guidance on potentially compensable events and patient safety concerns. The position works closely with senior leadership, participates in organizational committees, supports regulatory reporting, and provides rotating, recurring 24/7 on-call coverage for urgent risk, safety, and legal concerns. It also investigates claims and events, supports patient safety initiatives, and delivers system-wide education on risk management and related topics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
4–6 years of professional clinical experience.
4–6 years of relevant healthcare risk management experience.
An active Colorado DORA license in one of the following professions: Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant.
Obtain the Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) credential within the first year of employment.
Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations concerning healthcare risk management.
Ability to conduct independent investigations with empathy, sensitivity, objectivity, and effectiveness and report findings and analysis to stakeholders, including senior leadership.
Ability to build effective working relationships and promote positive interpersonal relationships with employees, physicians, patients, and visitors.
Ability to educate and train others on risk management principles.
Strong judgment, analytical and critical-thinking skills, and ability to assess risk and develop effective risk-control processes.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
Complex problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
Strong organizational, prioritization, and project-management capabilities.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information and support Denver Health’s mission and values.

Responsibilities

Provide rotating, recurring 24/7 on-call support, including after-hours and weekends, across Denver Health entities for clinical, operational, and legal concerns.
Advise high-risk care units on time-sensitive matters including patient disclosures, informed consent, custody and decision-making arrangements, patient-care management, safety concerns, crisis management, risk mitigation, and liability exposure; collaborate with in-house attorneys and escalate matters when appropriate.
Independently investigate significant occurrences and determine whether they meet state reportable-event criteria or Joint Commission sentinel-event or near-miss criteria.
Direct sentinel-event root cause analyses, including timely investigations, staff interviews, meetings with clinical staff and senior leadership, required reporting, and follow-up risk-reduction initiatives.
Conduct early investigations of potentially compensable events under quality management privilege and at the direction of in-house legal counsel; assess standards of care and liability exposure and facilitate claims reporting to professional liability insurers.
Review clinical records, prepare detailed timelines, maintain case files, and prepare communications and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
Work with the Deputy General Counsel and Claims Manager to review and respond to CGIA notices of claim, patient concerns, and summons and complaints.
Confer with claimants, attorneys, experts, employed clinical providers, insurance brokers and carriers, and other stakeholders to assess, defend, or resolve claims.
Participate in early resolution, mediations, settlements, and trials, and ensure compliance with state and federal reporting obligations.
Lead or partner with organizational leaders on committees and initiatives that strengthen risk prevention, patient safety, and institutional risk mitigation.
Work with Patient Advocate and Quality teams to review, draft, and respond to patient grievances and identify matters for referral to Risk Management, Claims, or Legal for potential early resolution.
Facilitate the health system’s controlled substance and drug diversion program and represent Risk Management on committees including the Ethics Committee, Controlled Substance Diversion Committee, ACS Threat Group, and Nursing Executive Committee.
Respond to and investigate workplace violence issues, assess related reporting obligations, and respond to confidential ethical and legal issues reported through Risk Management or Compliance.
Conduct risk assessments, analyze high-harm events and claims trends, and propose risk-reduction strategies to reduce economic impact and improve patient outcomes.
Design and deliver system-wide education on clinical risk management, documentation practices, patient disclosures, statutory and regulatory compliance, legal interactions, risk mitigation, and patient safety.
Develop, draft, edit, and review policies and procedures, and support their implementation and related education.

Benefits

Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, including vacation, personal/sick time, and seven holidays.
100% paid parental leave for up to six weeks.
Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions up to 9.5%.
Medical, dental, and vision plans, plus employer-paid disability and life insurance.
Well-being programs, including an on-site employee fitness center and the RESTORE Center.
Free RTD EcoPass for public transportation.
Childcare discount programs and discounts on brands, travel, and other perks.
Tuition reimbursement and assistance.
Education, coaching, and professional development through the Workforce Development Center.
Career advancement pathways, professional clinical advancement, and shared governance opportunities.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, free student-loan coaching, and assistance navigating the PSLF program.
Eligibility for National Health Service Corps and Colorado Health Service Corps programs.