Risk Assessments are a collaborative effort to identify risk mitigation opportunities, align organizational priorities, and access tailored resources to elevate risk management and patient care. Risk Assessments bring a fresh, objective perspective to our Members, grounded in the deep insights of our Risk Consultants and best practices gathered from our Members nationwide. Assessments build upon the findings of our annual Risk Evaluation check-ins and offer a deeper dive into specific areas of concern or opportunity.
A Customized, Collaborative Approach
No two Members are alike and, with a consistent process that supports benchmarking, every assessment is used to address our Members’ unique challenges and goals. Assessments build upon the findings of our annual Risk Evaluation check-ins and offer a deeper dive into specific areas of concern or opportunity.
All Risk Assessments include management interviews and policy and procedure reviews, and, depending on the assessment type, they may also involve observations of facilities and clinical areas. We can also review medical records, credentialing files, and HR documentation to gain a full picture of organizational practices.
Whether they are conducted on-site or virtually, assessments typically take one to two days. We recognize that this is a meaningful commitment of our Members’ time and resources, and we provide pre-assessment planning tools, agendas, and logistical guidance to help streamline preparation.
Throughout the process, our Risk Consultants work closely with Members to identify both known and previously unrecognized exposures, sharing best practices and guidance to enhance risk posture and support operational excellence.
For examples, some of the questions the process explores are:
- How are credentialing and privileging managed?
- How is informed consent documented?
- What processes are in place for non-compliant patients?
- What processes are in place to support workflow and documentation?
Focused on Members
General and specialty-specific assessments focus on key areas, including:
- Aging Services
- Allergy Clinic
- Ambulatory Surgery Centers
- Critical Care
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Emergency Medicine
- Employment Practices (Human Resources)
- General Hospital
- General Outpatient Clinic
- Medical Staff Office
- Outpatient Infusion
- Obstetrics
- Outpatient Behavioral Health
- Pediatrics
- Risk Management Program
- Surgical Services
- Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinics
- Urology
- Rehabilitation Services (PT/OT)
- Workplace Violence
What Members Receive
Following the assessment, our Member receives a comprehensive report summarizing findings and outlining risk mitigation opportunities and recommendations. The report is designed to illuminate opportunities around both specific risks that drive claims and those that can impede the defense of claims. With our recommendations come resources to support implementation, such as sample policies, sample procedures, and guidance documents.
Our Risk Consultants continue to partner with Members after the report is delivered. We help interpret results, set priorities and execute on them. Members often tell us that the process gives them reassurance that they are running a high-performing organization and have a clear plan for addressing gaps and elevating patient safety, in the near term and into the future.
Members Turning Opportunities into Action
Following one recent assessment, our Member took steps that included:
- Updating record-keeping processes to ensure that access was not dependent on a single staff member
- Creating and documenting a new opioid-prescription policy, approved by medical staff
- Conducting malignant-hypothermia drills in the surgical suites to strengthen emergency preparedness.
A Foundation for Long-Term Risk Management
Risk assessments are not one-off events. Repeating them every one or two years enables Members to track progress, adapt to operational changes, and maintain momentum in their risk management efforts. Whether a Member is launching a new initiative or revitalizing an existing program, risk assessments help them build and sustain a safer organization and continually raise the bar in risk management.
