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Department

Job Summary

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. This role leads investigation and reporting of significant health events, collaborates with clinical and operational leaders to reduce harm, and ensures compliance with regulatory and insurance requirements. The position develops and maintains risk reduction strategies, policies, and educational programs, analyzes trends, and provides critical guidance regarding potentially compensable events and patient safety concerns. The Senior Clinical Risk Manager works closely with senior leadership, participates in organizational committees, supports regulatory reporting, and provides rotating, reoccurring 24/7 on-call support for urgent risk/safety/legal concerns.

Essential Functions:
 

• Provide rotating, recurring 24/7 on-call support, including after hours and weekends, across all Denver Health entities to address clinical, operational, and legal concerns. Serve as subject matter expert and trusted advisor, especially to high-risk care units such as L&D, ED, OB/ED, BH, MICU/SICU, PDUC, and peri-op/surgical services, delivering guidance on navigating time-sensitive complex matters such as patient disclosures, informed consent, custody arrangements/decision making, patient care management issues, patient safety concerns, crisis management, risk mitigation, and liability exposure. This often may involve close collaboration with in-house attorneys on legal/risk/care related questions - serving as a liaison and understanding when to further escalate situations. (35%)

• Independently investigate and determine if significant occurrences meet elements for a state reportable event to CDPHE and/or meet the Joint Commission criteria for a sentinel event or near miss. For sentinel events, direct the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process to ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation by performing timely and thorough investigations, interviewing key clinical staff, and leading/facilitating multiple meetings with clinical staff and senior leadership to identify system contributions and vulnerabilities. Submit required reports and actions items when applicable, and collaborate with Patient Safety, Quality and Excellence to develop risk reduction initiatives and enhance patient safety following the RCA. (20%)

• Under the quality management privilege and at the direction of in-house legal counsel, conduct early investigations into all potentially compensable events to evaluate standard of care (professional standards, statutes, regulations, hospital and department policies and guidelines) and liability exposure, and facilitate individual claim reporting to professional liability insurance carriers to ensure appropriate coverage. Undertake clinical review and prepare detailed timeline of care, maintain appropriate case files and documentation, and prepare critical communications and reports for internal and external partners. In conjunction with Deputy General Counsel and Claims Manager, review and respond to CGIA notices of claim, patient concerns, and summons and complaints. Confer directly and independently with claimants, attorneys, experts, employed clinical providers, insurance brokers and carriers, and other stakeholders to assess, defend and/or facilitate resolution of a claim. Participate in early resolution, mediations, settlements and/or trial, and ensure compliance with state and federal reporting obligations. (20%)

• Routinely lead or partner with other leaders on system-wide committees and initiatives that strengthen risk prevention and patient safety and mitigate institutional risk. This includes, but is not limited to, regular involvement with the Patient Advocate and Quality teams to assist with reviewing, drafting and responding to patient grievances and identifying matters to transfer to Risk Management/Claims/Legal for potential early resolution; facilitating the health system’s controlled substance and drug diversion program; representing Risk Management on various Committees, including the Ethics Committee, Controlled Substance Diversion Committee, ACS Threat Group, and the Nursing Executive Committee; responding to and investigating issues of workplace violence and assessing related reporting obligations, and responding to confidential ethical and legal issues reported through Risk Management or Compliance.
  (15%)

• Conduct various types of risk assessments to identify, evaluate and propose risk reduction strategies. Assess high-harm events and claims trend data to reduce economic impact and improve patient outcomes. Design and deliver system-wide presentations and education on clinical risk management, documentation best practices, patient disclosures, statutory and regulatory compliance, legal interactions, risk mitigation, and patient safety topics. (5%)

• Develop, draft, edit, and review policies and procedures, and participate in system or department-wide implementation and education. (5%)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree Required

Work Experience:

• 4-6 years Professional clinical experience required. Required and

• 4-6 years of relevant healthcare risk management experience. Required

Licenses:

• RN-Registered Nurse - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or

• PHA-Licensed Pharmacist - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or 

• PT-Physical Therapist - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or

• OT-Occupational Therapist - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or 

• RTL-Respiratory Therapy License - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or

• MD- Physician - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or

• NP-Nurse Practitioner - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required or 

• PA- Physician Assistant - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required

• CPHRM-Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management - ASHRM - American Society for Health Care Risk Management preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 

• Demonstrate knowledge and competency in all areas of responsibility as described within the Job Description.

• Direct critical independent investigations of legal and risk matters with considerable empathy, sensitivity, objectivity and effectiveness, report results and analysis to stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Develop effective working relationships with management and stakeholders throughout the organization.

• Promotes positive interpersonal relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors.

• Maintain a current working knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations concerning health care risk management.

• Educate and train others on risk management principles.

• Demonstrate good judgment, strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Ability to assess and evaluate risk to develop and maintain effective risk control processes.

• Highly self-motivated with the ability to function independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment with minimal to no supervision and direction.

• Complex problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  Excellent communication skills, including writing, facilitation and presentation.

• Strong organizational, prioritization, and project management capabilities.

• Demonstrates support for the mission and values of Denver Health.

• Ensure confidentiality of patient information.

• Obtains CPHRM-Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management in first year of employment.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.