Healthcare Risk Manager - Job Description, Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Healthcare Risk Manager
Every hospital, clinic or other licensed medical facility needs to have a risk management program in order to reduce the number of incidents and accidents that occur every year in a medical setting. A healthcare risk manager is someone who develops and implements this plan by changing policies, practices and procedures to best protect the organization.
Job Description
So what is a healthcare risk manager, exactly? The daily responsibilities of a healthcare risk manager vary, but they are concerned with the health organization's public image and status. For example, a healthcare risk manager will help with any claims against the organization, whether they are simple complaints or major lawsuits. In case of the lawsuit, the risk manager communicates with legal counsel during the case. The point is to settle any complaints in a quick and efficient manner with minimal damage to the image or finances of an organization.
Another duty of the healthcare risk manager is to alert the medical staff and other employees of potential risks with educational programs. These risk-management programs must comply with standards established by the Joint Commission as well as other accrediting and regulatory agencies.
The purpose of a healthcare risk manager is to prevent the effects of an accident and loss on the medical organization. Healthcare risk managers rarely work with patients. Healthcare risk manager positions usually remain behind the scenes to prevent future patient or organizational damage.
Salary Guide
The average salary for a healthcare risk manager is about $78,000. That value goes up or down depending on the level of responsibility. For example, a typical healthcare risk manager can make $68,000. Directors or managers of risk management can make about $80,000, and a vice president of risk management can make up to $100,000. Those numbers will most likely rise if the demand for healthcare risk managers increases.
Education and Training
A number of certification requirements must be completed before applying for a licensed healthcare risk manager position. These requirements vary from state to state. Examples of certifications include:
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Associate's in Risk Management (ARM)
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Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM).
It is possible to enroll in online programs for a graduate certificate, a pre-certification program and possibly a pre-licensure certificate.
Online programs are excellent for busy adults who already have full-time jobs and families. You can complete your healthcare risk management certification at your convenience in the comfort of your own home.
Prior Work Experience
Many people who go into healthcare risk management usually begin in other healthcare positions. Some start their careers as medical assistants, registered nurses (RNs), doctors or other healthcare professionals. Many healthcare risk managers also have backgrounds in social work, medical technology and pharmaceuticals.
Career Advancement
Promotion to more senior positions in healthcare risk management usually leads to a higher salary. Considering that the daily responsibility of a healthcare risk manager includes learning about the latest technology and dealing with an array of variables, career options are numerous. Some healthcare risk managers also purse careers in insurance.
Related Associations and Groups
- American Health Information Management Association
- American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
- Health Care Compliance Association
- National Association for Healthcare Quality
- Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.