Safety and Risk Specialist

About Apex Skin:

We are Apex Skin, and our mission is to provide the highest quality dermatology and dermatologic surgery care to patients across Northeast Ohio with promptness, compassion, and excellence. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional patient experiences, offering same-day appointments, and serving our communities through education and meaningful care. Our team is dedicated to creating a supportive, patient-focused environment where excellence, empathy, and teamwork thrive.

Apex Skin is a physician-led and rapidly growing dermatology practice committed to delivering exceptional patient experiences. We are seeking a talented and motivated Safety & Risk Specialist  to join our team.

The Safety & Risk Specialist is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of the organization's patient safety, workplace safety, and operational risk management program. This position partners with clinical leaders, providers, managers, laboratory personnel, and executive leadership to identify, evaluate, mitigate, and monitor risks that may impact patient care, employee safety, regulatory compliance, operational effectiveness, and organizational objectives.

The Safety & Risk Specialist serves as the organization's primary resource for patient incident management, workplace safety initiatives, hazard and safety risk assessments, emergency preparedness activities, and operational risk evaluations across General Dermatology, Mohs Surgery, Pathology Services, and administrative operations.

This position reports to the Compliance Officer and collaborates closely with  Clinical Operations, Human Resources, and Information Technology.

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday through Friday 
• Hybrid flexibility may be available based on departmental needs

Essential Functions

Patient Safety & Incident Management

• Manage patient incident reporting, investigation, tracking, and resolution processes.
• Conduct incident reviews and coordinate follow-up activities with operational and clinical leadership.
• Perform root cause analyses and support corrective and preventive action planning.
• Monitor trends involving patient safety events, near misses, complaints, and adverse occurrences.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership and committees.

Safety Committee Leadership

• Serve as Chair of the Safety Committee.
• Develop meeting agendas, facilitate meetings, maintain committee records, and track corrective actions.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary safety initiatives and monitor ongoing organizational safety goals.
• Present safety metrics, trends, and recommendations to leadership.

Occupational Health & Workplace Safety

• Conduct OSHA inspections and workplace safety assessments for all locations.
• Identify hazards and recommend corrective actions to reduce employee and patient safety risks.
• Coordinate investigation of employee injuries, exposures, and safety incidents.
• Assist departments in maintaining compliance with workplace safety standards.
• Maintain chemical safety documentation and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) resources.

Risk Assessment & Operational Risk Management

• Conduct Hazard Risk Assessments and Safety Risk Assessments for existing and proposed services, processes, and facility changes.
• Evaluate operational, clinical, environmental, and organizational risks.
• Assist leadership in developing risk mitigation strategies and monitoring effectiveness.
• Maintain organizational risk registers and risk assessment documentation.
• Support enterprise risk management initiatives and strategic planning discussions.

Clinical Operations & Laboratory Support

• Support General Dermatology, Mohs Surgery, Laboratory, and administrative departments in identifying and mitigating operational risks.
• Participate in workflow reviews and process improvement projects.
• Assess clinical and laboratory processes for potential safety vulnerabilities.
• Partner with operational leaders to implement sustainable risk-reduction measures.

Product, Equipment, and Vendor Risk Evaluation

• Review product certifications, safety documentation, and equipment-related risk information.
• Assess operational risks associated with new equipment, products, and clinical technologies.
• Collaborate with department leaders during the evaluation and implementation of new services and workflows.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, and regulatory readiness.

Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity

• Coordinate emergency response planning activities.
• Updates of emergency preparedness procedures.
• Support drills, exercises, and readiness initiatives.

Security Awareness Program Support

• Support administration of security awareness training initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Compliance Officer and Information Technology teams to improve employee awareness of organizational security risks.
• Monitor participation metrics and assist with reporting and follow-up activities.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Track organizational safety and risk management metrics.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and trend analyses for leadership review.
• Monitor effectiveness of risk reduction efforts.
• Maintain required documentation supporting safety and risk management activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Occupational Safety, Nursing, Risk Management, Healthcare Quality, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Three to five years of experience in healthcare safety, risk management, patient and occupational safety of healthcare operations.
• Experience in ambulatory healthcare, dermatology, surgical specialties, or laboratory services preferred.
• Experience conducting investigations, risk assessments, and safety reviews preferred.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM)
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• OSHA Healthcare Safety Certification

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer
• Frequent typing, data entry, and use of electronic systems
• Ability to speak and hear clearly when communicating with patients, providers, and team members
• Requires sound judgment, organization, and calm communication when managing time-sensitive referrals
• Adherence to HIPAA, OSHA, and Apex Skin privacy, compliance, and safety standards

Apex Skin Culture

Apex Skin fosters a collaborative, patient-first environment built on compassion, clinical excellence, and teamwork. We believe in a respectful and supportive workplace where employees feel valued, trusted, and empowered to contribute to exceptional patient experiences and meaningful clinical care.

Employee Health & Safety Requirements:

All patient-facing employees are required to provide proof of a TB test within the past 12 months and an annual flu vaccination as part of Apex Skin’s employee health and safety protocols. The Hepatitis B vaccination series is also strongly recommended for clinical staff due to potential occupational exposure risks. Apex Skin complies with federal and Ohio law by providing reasonable accommodations for medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent vaccination. Employees seeking an accommodation should contact Human Resources for more information.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Apex Skin provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Apex complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.