Risk and Patient Safety Specialist

10 Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI seeks a Risk and Safety Specialist to develop and oversee patient safety and risk management programs, ensuring compliance with national goals and accreditation standards.

You will analyze data, lead improvements, train staff, and collaborate with leadership to enhance the patient and family experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field and strong communication skills are required.
• Two years in clinical field with healthcare risk management or quality management experience is preferred.
• Proven ability to analyze data, perform root cause analyses, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide care, treatment, and services within licensure scope as required by law.
• Assess risks, administer reporting systems, monitor data trends, and lead root-cause analyses.
• Lead patient safety initiatives, collaborate with external benchmarking bodies, and ensure regulatory reporting.

Skills

Communication skills

Verbal & written skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in health-related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

SharePoint

HTML

Job description

Mary Free Bed Summary

We have the great privilege of helping patients and families re-build their lives. It’s extraordinarily meaningful work and the reason we greet the day with optimism and anticipation. When patients “Ask for Mary,” they experience a culture that has been sculpted for more than a century. Our hallmark is to carefully listen to patients and innovatively serve them. This is true of every employee, from support staff and leadership to clinicians and care providers. Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital serving thousands of children and adults each year through inpatient, outpatient, sub-acute rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics and home and community programs. With the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed physicians, nurses and therapists help our patients achieve outstanding clinical outcomes.The growing Mary Free Bed Network provides patients throughout the state with access to our unique standard of care

Mission Statement

Restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation.

Employment Value Proposition

At Mary Free Bed, we take pride in our values-based culture: Focus on Patient Care. A selfless drive to serve and heal connects all MFB employees. Clinical Variety and Challenge. An inter-disciplinary approach and a top team of professionals create ever-changing opportunities and activities. Family Culture. We offer the stability of a large organization while nurturing the family/team atmosphere of a small organization. Trust in Each Other. Each employee knows that co-workers can be trusted to make the right decision for our family, patients, staff, and community. A Proud Tradition. Years of dedicated, quality service to our patients and community have yielded a reputation that fills our employees with pride.

Summary

The Risk and Safety Specialist develops and oversees patient safety and risk management programs to ensure high-quality care and minimize errors, accidents, and adverse events. This role ensures compliance with national patient safety goals, regulatory standards, and accreditation requirements. Responsibilities include analyzing data using investigative and statistical methods, benchmarking against best practices, and leading initiatives that enhance patient and family-centered care. The specialist serves as a resource to leadership and staff, driving improvements that positively impact the patient experience.

Essential Job Responsibilities

General Provides care, treatment, and services within the scope of licensure, certification, or registration as required by law and regulation.

Risk Management Assesses potential risks associated with new and existing services. Administers and maintains the occurrence reporting system and related documentation. Monitors and analyzes data to identify trends and variances affecting patient, visitor, and employee safety. Investigates incidents involving patients, employees, visitors, and property; leads root cause analyses and action plan development. Acts as liaison with attorneys, insurance carriers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders on risk-related matters. Researches evidence-based practices to support risk reduction strategies. Collaborates with the Director of Quality and Risk to resolve complaints and grievances. Maintains records and prepare reports to meet regulatory requirements. Reviews contracts for organizational risk; escalates to leadership or legal counsel as needed. Oversees medical malpractice and liability insurance reviews in partnership with Finance. Develops and delivers risk management and patient safety training for onboarding and annual education. Creates and implements policies and procedures related to risk and safety. Presents risk and safety updates to the Board as requested. Participates in committees and advisory groups to coordinate initiatives. Performs other duties related to quality, risk, and safety as assigned.

Patient Safety Leads hospital-wide patient safety initiatives, including data analysis and action planning. Serves as liaison to external benchmarking organizations for data sharing and best practice adoption. Ensures timely and accurate mandatory reporting of safety and quality data. Collaborates with departments to develop training materials and resources.

Customer Service Responsibilities Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
• At least two years in the clinical field & in either healthcare risk management, quality management, or clinical documentation.
• Additional expertise in occurrence reporting, patient safety initiatives, data analysis and trending, contract review, handling of complaints and grievances, and exercising sound judgment and problem solving desired.
• Completion of Risk Management education or related coursework within 2 years of hire.
• Ability to communicate through effective verbal and written skills, including proper grammar, presentation, spelling, punctuation, and composition for correspondence and reporting.
• Proven experience in dealing discreetly with sensitive, confidential patient, employee, and contractual information.
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and with little supervision.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Share Point, and familiarity of HTML.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• RN preferred.
• Accreditation readiness preferred.
• Working knowledge of RL6 and Learning Management System preferred.

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification Levels

None (No specific requirements) Occasionally (Less than 1/3) Frequently (1/3 to 2/3) Majority (More than 2/3) Remain in a stationary position: Majority Traverse or move around work location: None Use keyboard: Frequently Operate or use department specific equipment: None Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder: None Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role: None Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding: Frequently Transport, position, and/or exert force: Up to 10 pounds: Occasionally Up to 25 pounds: _____ Up to 50 pounds: _____ Up to 75 pounds: _____ More than 100 pounds: _____ Other weight: Up to___ pounds _____ Other: None

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.

Accommodation Statement

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Company Culture

At Mary Free Bed, we work towards putting everybody in motion. Fueled by our passion for innovative, integrated rehabilitation care, our teams work together to elevate everyone’s potential. Whether you’re here to ensure a safe environment at our hospitals, provide clinical care or help our patients navigate their next appointment, we’re united by the same mission: to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. Everyone plays an integral role in defining a better future for ourselves, our patients, and our communities.