The Office of Risk Management identifies and controls potential liability issues as they relate to patient care and the medical staff. This is managed by analyzing potential exposure and choosing the most effective method to mitigate losses through claims management, risk avoidance, risk transfers and self-insured retentions. The office also provides guidance on ethics issues. Ultimately, the office enhances the safety of our employees, patients and visitors and minimizes the subsequent financial loss to the Network. The office depends on departments throughout the Network to assist in identifying potential hazards and reporting incidents requiring attention in order minimize adverse effects. If you observe a situation that may be considered a risk or result in a loss, please call the Office of Risk Management immediately.

Specific activities of the office include:

  • Directing the Network's commercial insurance programs, including exposure analysis, exposure maintenance, negotiating coverage terms and conditions, specifying coverage limits, claims resolution and broker liaison
  • Claims administrator for St. Luke's Hospital Network Insurance Company (SLHNIC), a Reciprocal Risk Retention Group (RRRC), including defense counsel assignment, settlement negotiation, litigation management and regulatory reporting
  • Day-to-day administration for SLHNIC, a RRRG, including insured and exposure analysis and tracking, and as member of Underwriting Committee
  • Directing guardianship matters for alleged incapacitated patients, including approval of the applicable Network entities to serve as petitioner and assignment of special counsel for guardianship purposes
    • Special investigations at the direction of General Counsel
  • Special legal consultations for Network entities with referral to in-house and/or outside counsel as appropriate, including medical liability, general liability, regulatory liability, general safety, patient safety, property protection, vehicle operations and security liability
  • Vehicle and driver administrator for Network vehicle operations
  • Contract review regarding indemnification and insurance terms and conditions Consultant to Clinical Risk Management for patient safety matters, including grievances, incidents, serious events, infrastructure management and related matters
  • Consultant to Network entities and departments for policy and procedure development, review and legal analysis, including serving as liaison with outside health care counsel
  • Consultant to Ethics Committee
  • Consultant to Forms Committee
  • Consultant to Human Resources Department (self-insured workers compensation program)
  • Member and consultant to the Network Patient Safety Committee and the General Safety Committee