NACHC Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office
The purpose of the NACHC Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office is to provide a national forum and one-stop resource for current and relevant Clinical Risk Management-related information.
To Join - Membership
Membership to this Virtual Office is open to all interested staff and providers of Health Centers, Primary Care Associations, Clinical Networks, national organizations, and Federal partners.
If you do not already have an account at the Health Disparities Collaboratives web site:
- Go to www.healthdisparities.net and follow the link in the Welcome Box at the top right hand side for “new user signup.”
- Complete “General Information” form and then hit “Continue” at the bottom of the form.
- On the “Group Memberships” page, check the box next to “Risk Management” in the “Operational” category.
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page. You will receive an Account Confirmation. This also will generate a request for membership in the Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office. You will receive a reply shortly from the Administrator letting you know that your membership has been granted.
If you already have an account at the Health Disparities Collaboratives web site:
- Log in to the web site with your user name and password.
- Highlight “Office” in the main navigation bar and select “My Account.”
- Click on the “Group Memberships” tab.
- Check the box next to “Risk Management” in the “Operational” category.
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page. This will generate a request for membership in the Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office. You will receive a reply shortly from the Administrator letting you know that your membership has been granted.
Once you are a member, you can access this Virtual Office at anytime. Simply log in at http://www.healthdisparities.net/hdc/html/virtualOffice.aspx.
Group membership to the Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office includes:
- A National Calendar of upcoming Risk Management-related events, including contact and relevant information for Trainings, Webinars, and Educational Sessions.
- Important Announcements.
- A File Folder Section containing information categorized as follows:
- FAQs on Hot Topics, with cross-referencing Index
- Risk Management Overview
- Risk Management Plan
- Risk Prevention/Quality Improvement
- Risk Management Incident Reporting
- Medical Records
- Documentation
- Medical Records Management
- Medical Staff Credentialing
- Clinical Practice
- Credentialing Process
- Peer and Medical Staff Quality Review
- Patient Relations
- Health Education/Literacy
- Informed Consent/Refusal
- Patient Communications
- Patient Satisfaction/Complaint
- Termination of Care
- Clinic Operations/Risk
- Behavioral Risk Issues
- Communications/Access
- Diagnostic Tracking and Follow-up
- General Clinic Risk Issue
- Infection Control
- Non-Clinical Risk
- FTCA Basics
- Event Information
- Meet The Experts
- NACHC Information
- Training Materials
Why Clinical Risk Management?
For Health Centers, reducing and eliminating risk may be the most critical financial strategy. The benefits of effective clinical risk management center first and foremost on patient safety. Protect the patient, and you …
- avoid costly claims,
- maintain the solvency of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Judgment Fund,
- achieve accreditation, and
- meet regulatory requirements set out by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The value of clinical risk management is clear. It’s not an option. To ensure risk management, the HRSA requires Health Centers to put in place an active quality improvement program; use appropriate clinical protocols; assure clear communications with patients; maintain complete medical records; conduct proper credentialing of health care professionals; develop formal means for patients to file grievances; regularly assess patient satisfaction; provide regular staff training; and keep risk management policies up-to-date.
The HRSA believes Health Centers could be doing a better job of managing risk. Its Office of Inspector General surveyed 240 Health Centers on their malpractice risk management, and reported results in February 2005. The HRSA subsequently set a goal for all Health Centers to participate in risk management training by 2010.
To help Health Centers achieve that objective, the NACHC has both created the Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office and contracted with the Risk Management & Patient Safety Institute (RM&PSI) www.rmpsi.com to offer a comprehensive Clinical Risk Management Program.
Once you are a member, you can access the Clinical Risk Management Virtual Office at anytime. Simply log in at http://www.healthdisparities.net/hdc/html/virtualOffice.aspx.
If you have any questions, please email Katja Laepke or call 206.780.4972.
