Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente San Diego

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its facility in San Diego, California. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Kaiser Permanente Careers, Ref. No.: 123071.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

MD Anderson Cancer Center Loses Two Ombuds

According to its website, which was updated over the weekend, Anu Rao and Susan Park are no longer with the Ombuds Office at MDACC. Rao had been the director since February 2006 and Park joined in January 2011. The office remains staffed by Rita Burns and Bill Brock. (MDACC Ombuds Office.)

Related posts: MD Anderson Ombuds Posts Annual Summary; University of Hawai'i Ombuds Posts Final Report; Ombuds to Lead ADRhub Webinar on Bullying; Job Posting; MD Anderson Gains an Experienced Ombuds.

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente

KP is seeking applications for four, full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator positions in the Bay Area cities of San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Jose, and South Sacramento. Kaiser's HCOM functions as, "a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (LinkedIn Jobs.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

University of Rochester Medical Center Creates Ombuds Office

The medical campus of the University of Rochester in Upstate New York has appointed Mary Berk as its first Ombudsman. Berk will work with hospital patients, families, and staff in a neutral, confidential, independent and informal role. “Adding an ombudsman for our hospital and ambulatory care clinics is a progressive move,” said Jackie Beckerman, director of UMRC's Office of the Strong Commitment, a service excellence program.  

According to a news report, Berk started in January and has spent significant time working with concerned families of patients. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her husband is the chief executive of University of Rochester Medical Center. (URMC Today; Spinal Cord injury Zone.)

Job Posting: McKesson

McKesson Corporation, the largest health care company in the world and 15th largest company in the United States, is hiring a "Director Employee Relations\Ombudsperson" for its Specialty Care Solutions and US Oncology division in Texas. According to the posting, the position is... 

Responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of various Employee Relations initiatives and objectives. Proactively leads strategic planning and consultation to management in understanding the impact of a broad range of Employee Relations issues and activities and its influence on performance and productivity. Counsels employees, supervisors and management when necessary to help resolve conflicts. Has responsibility to investigate and resolve issues surfaced across all CSA practice locations. Responsible for the 'Open Door' and other ER programs. Reports to Senior Vice President Human Resources for MSH. 

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in business or industrial relations (Master's degree preferred) and at least 10 years of experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (McKesson Jobs.)

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente San Jose

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its facility in San Jose, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Monster, Kaiser Ref. No.: 111855.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

Medical College of Wisconsin Ombuds Office Debuts Website

Peter Layde, the newly appointed Ombudsman for the private medical and graduate school in Milwaukee has unveiled a website for his office. The site explains the ethical tenets of the office and provides many links to conflict and Ombuds-related resources. (MCW Ombuds.)

Related posts: Job Posting; Medical College of Wisconsin Appoints Professor to be First Ombuds.

Medical University of South Carolina to Create Ombuds Program

The small private medical school in Charleston is seeking candidates for the position of Ombuds for faculty and post-doctoral fellows. The new, 25% appointment will serve a two-year trial period. MUSC is considering current or retired faculty members and the new Ombuds will start on January 1, 2012. (MUSC News; Senate Minutes.)

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its facility in South San Francisco, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Monster, Kaiser Ref. No.: 101211.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds; Four Ombuds will Speak at Southern California Mediation Conference.

Update: Four Ombuds will Speak at Southern California Mediation Conference

The 23rd  annual conference of the Southern California Mediation Association will feature a panel of four Ombuds discussing their work.  Joining Betsy Decyk, the Ombuds for Cal State Long Beach, and Tom Kosakowski, an Ombuds at UCLA will be David M. Richardson, Health Care Ombudsman-Mediator for Kaiser Permanente, and G. Michael Kilpatrick, Ombudsman for the California Pharmacist Association.

The program description reads:

Organizational ombudsmen serve as embedded conflict resolution experts and facilitate the informal resolution of concerns of stakeholders of the organization. In addition, Ombuds bring systemic concerns to the attention of the organization for resolution. Their work is characterized by confidentiality, independence, neutrality, and informality. This panel of practicing Ombuds will offer insights on their work in various fields.

The SCMA conference takes place November 4 and 5 in Los Angeles and Malibu.  (SCMA Conf. Info.)

Prior post: Southern California Mediation Conference Will Feature Ombuds Panel. 

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente San Diego

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its facility in San Diego, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Monster, Kaiser Ref. No.: 103821.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

Medical College of Wisconsin Appoints Professor to be First Ombuds

The private medical and graduate school in Milwaukee has named Peter Layde, MD, MSc, as its first Ombudsman. As a part-time Ombuds, Layde will work with faculty, staff physicians, postdoctoral fellows and staff--a population of about 6,700. The President of the Medical College said, “Our ongoing commitment to collaboration, cooperation and the highest standards of education, research and care will be strengthened considerably by the addition of a dedicated Ombuds position.”

Layde is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Chair for Global and Public Health. He joined the faculty in 1993 after serving as Director of the Division of Chronic Disease Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Layde earned his BA and MD from the University of Wisconsin and also earned an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. (MCW Press Release.)

Prior: Job Posting.

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente Hayward

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for their facility in Hayward, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Kaiser Permanent Careers, Job No.: 101098.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

Former Ombuds Returns to Stanford University

Stanford has hired Martha McKee to serve as the Ombudsperson for the School of Medicine--a position she previously held from 1996 to 2007. As the Ombuds, McKee reports directly to the Dean of the Medical School. Before serving as the Ombuds, McKee worked as an attorney for the Office of the General Counsel, Risk Management Department.

McKee earned her AB from Smith college and a JD from Santa Clara University School of Law. She is a member of the California State Bar and a certified mediator, and she has spoken at conferences of The Ombudsman Association. 

The prior Ombuds for the Stanford School of Medicine was Kevin Smith, who passed unexpectedly in 2009, less than a year after being appointed. In the interim, matters from the School of Medicine have been handled by David Rasch, the University Ombuds. (Stanford SOM Dean's Letter.)

Related posts: Job Posting; Stanford Appoints Med Center Ombuds; Keith Smith: Stanford Medical Center Ombuds.

Daniel Rainey Recalls Instigating Army Ombuds Program at Walter Reed

The closure of the Walter Reed medical center prompted Daniel Rainey to remember how conditions at the aging hospital lead to the Army MEDCOM Ombudsman Office. In 2007, Rainey (now the Chief of Staff for the National Mediation Board) and a few colleagues finagled a meeting with the new Deputy Commander at Walter Reed. They were able to convince General Michael S. Tucker that an Ombuds program, "would help the Army address more than broken air conditioners and peeling paint."

Rainey goes on:

To his credit, he immediately saw the utility in creating an Ombudsman Office that would serve all of Army MEDCOM, not just Walter Reed. Also to his credit, he brought in Colonel Becky Baker, who headed the team that created the Army MEDCOM Ombudsman Office, which now has offices around the world at Army medical facilities, and which is offering dispute resolution and management services to literally thousands of wounded soldiers, families, and medical professionals every year. Not coincidentally, given the work Ethan and I have done in online dispute resolution, there is an ODR component to the Ombudsman Office, too.

The ghost of Walter Reed Army Medical Center hovers over all of the Ombudsman Offices.

(Daniel Rainey's Blog.)

Related posts: Interview: Ombuds & Director of ADR Services for National Mediation Board; Army's Ombuds Program for Soldiers Goes Online; Ombuds Perspectives on Buenos Aires ODR Forum; Job Posting: U.S. Army Medical Department.

Job Posting: Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic Health System, one of the largest private medical centers in the world, is seeking applications for an Ombuds position in its Office of the Ombudsman. The position is similar to that of an Organizational Ombuds to the extent that it: identifies, evaluates and resolves patient complaints; Aggregates and analyzes complaint and satisfaction data; and Determines proactive recommendations and provides feedback of resolution to appropriate parties. However, the Ombuds also, "Conducts investigations for Law Department, negotiates settlements as instructed."

A bachelor's is required and three years of related experience investigating and resolving complex complaints in a medical environment is preferred. No salary or closing date indicated. (Cleveland Clinic Careers, Job Code: T2200M.)

California Pharmacists Association Names First Ombuds

CPhA has hired Michael Kilpatrick to be the the professional association's first Ombudsman. The new Pharmacist Resource Program will provide employee pharmacists--many of whom work for grocery stores and other large retailers--with a free, confidential resource to help them deal with workplace challenges such as staffing practices, patient safety, and working conditions. Kilpatrick, who previously served as the Ombuds for Bridgepoint Education, has been hired by CPhA for a 1-year pilot program.

CPhA Chief Executive Officer Jon Roth told Drug Topics Magazine that he believes the program may be the first Ombuds within a professional association:

"CPhA isn't the first association whose members have workplace concerns, but we think we're the first association to take this direct approach to dealing with some of the things that concern employee pharmacists the most. We want to act as an agent of change for a sector of the industry that feels it is not being heard."

The association's board will discuss interim results in early 2012 before deciding whether to extend the program. (Drug Topics; Pharmacist Resource Program.)

Related posts: Ashford University Opens Ombuds Office; CPhA Job Posting; Bridgepoint's Ashford University Closes Ombuds Office; California Pharmacists Association Creates Statewide Ombuds Program.

Free Webinar on Role of Ombuds in Health Care

The next monthly webinar hosted by ADRHub.com is on Health Care Collaboration and Conflict Resolution. The guest speaker will be Laurie Miller Patterson, the Employee Ombuds for Akron General Health System since 2005. "In this webinar, Laurie will share the kinds of conflicts that emerge within the health care setting, challenges and accomplishments she has faced in the role thus far, and why she feels an ombuds has the perfect role for supporting collaboration and addressing health care conflicts."

The hour-long event is free and takes place August 18, 2011 at 6:00 5:00 PM (Central). (ADRhub.)

Related posts: Ombuds Help Hospitals Meet Joint Commission Standards; Five Long Days With a Hospital Ombuds; List of Certified Ombuds Expands to 45.

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente San Francisco

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for their facility in San Francisco, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

People who have applied for these positions confirm that Kaiser generally seeks individuals with extensive clinical or health care management experience. No salary or closing date indicated. (Kaiser Permanent Careers, Job No.: 093296.)

Related post: Interview With Kaiser Permanente Health Care Ombuds.

ACR Conference to Feature Several Ombuds

At the Association for Conflict Resolution tenth annual conference in San Diego, CA on October 12-15, 2011, several Organizational Ombuds will be speakers.  The preliminary session schedule includes the following presenters and topics:

 

• Deb Ledvina, Transportation Ombudsman, Minnesota Department of Transportation - "Mn/DOT’s Ombudsman Program Resolves Conflicts and Rebuilds Trust" (October 14);
• Michael A. Zeytoonian, Lawyer, Mediator and Ombudsman, Zeytoonian Center for Dispute Resolution - "When your favorite ADR process does not fit, you must not quit. It's time for Integrated Dispute Resolution, a.k.a. Dispute Resolution Unplugged" (October 15); and
• Maureen Whitmore, Mark Montijo and Dave St. Pierre, Healthcare Ombudsmen/Mediators, Kaiser Permanente, "A Tapestry of Healing: The Role of the Weaver" (October 15).

(ACR Draft Session Schedule; 2011 Conference Info.)

Related posts: 2009 ACR Conference Features Ombuds; Tenth ACR Conference Will Highlight Ombuds Issues; Save the Date for ACR Annual Conference in San Diego.