Job Description

Top candidates for this position will have a strong clinical background (such as OB/GYN, RN, RT, PT, LCSW, PA), strong communication skills, and excellent problem solving.

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position is responsible for initiating, coordinating, and managing all investigational and evaluation activities associated with professional liability occurrences and claim pre-litigation files. Negotiating resolution with authority from director. Providing basic and complex preventive risk management assessment of processes, procedures, and programs, including in-service education, consultation, and liaison activities. This position is not responsible for providing care to patients.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Investigates potential liability situations as identified through various risk identification sources.
• Reviews medial records of all occurrences which present significant risks in the area of professional liability.
• Evaluates the extent and elements of exposure and recommends appropriate actions for risk mitigation.
• Completes case summaries on all new cases.
• Completes notifications for compliance with tracking and insurer requirements, including insurance carrier and law firm notifications and any federal, state or entity reporting requirements.
• Maintains all claims files and medial records, or other documents associated with professional liability claims.
• Recommends resolution and completes negotiation of resolution within authority granted by the Reserve Committee.
• Assists the Director and Associate Director, as necessary, in preparation of special reports or in response to requests for information and other discovery documents.
• Responds to questions from staff relating to general points of protocol.
• Assists in preparation of monthly reports of claim activity.
• Assists in developing educational programs to raise staff awareness to risk exposure and the impact on professional liability.
• Reviews with Quality Improvement and Patient Safety variance reports to identify and analyze trends.
• Provides in-service education on risk management topics both basic education and complex focused topics as needed or requested.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Demonstrated potential ability to perform the essential functions as outlined above.

• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.

• Ability to learn and gain expertise with the university and department specific computer programs.

• Demonstrated conflict resolution skills.

• Demonstrated report preparation skills.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in a health care related field or equivalency.
• Five years of clinical experience or ten years of professional medical liability claims experience.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

• Risk Management, Quality Improvement or Patient Safety experience.
• Ability to work well with physicians, staff and leadership.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This is a sedentary position in an office setting that may exert up to 10 pounds and may lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position involves sitting most of the time is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Requirements

Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Pulling and/or Pushing, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Walking