Triage and Board Support Investigator

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Bureau of Health Professions Licensure is comprised of the twenty-one Boards of Registration and Certification and the Drug Control Program, as well as shared service units that support these programs.  For this role, the Massachusetts Board of Nursing is seeking a motivated individual to serve as the Triage and Board Support Investigator. The selected candidate will be responsible for oversight of complaint activities and develop policies, procedures, and guidelines to accomplish public safety objectives and goals. The selected candidate gathers evidence in the form of a complaint and the licensee’s response, as well as legal and clinical documents.  The selected candidate will also be responsible for coordinating meetings, giving brief presentations and gauging compliance.  The selected candidate will provide high-level expertise in coordinating the Board and the Board activities including scheduling and attending meetings and preparing  agendas, minutes and notes. The selected candidate will provide functional oversight of the administrative staff for preparation and maintenance of files, reports, and other documents. Candidates should possess exceptional organizational skills, strong computer skills for data analysis, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills.

To be successful in this role, the candidate should have experience in the health care field and/or in the field of investigations and be familiar with the Massachusetts Nursing Regulations. 

Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):

Triage Responsibilities:

• Reviews complaints, reports, documents, and pertinent information received from the general public and other agency personnel concerning alleged violations of laws and regulations against nurses, to determine the appropriateness of the complaint; and to determine the appropriate action to be taken on the complaint and/or to refer the complaint to the appropriate agency.
• Verifies the information obtained in order to establish accuracy and authenticity of facts. Performs related duties such as maintaining records, attending meetings, and preparing correspondence.
• Monitors open triage complaints, tracks, and maintains responses to requests for information and composes follow-up requests. Responds to inquiries. Keeps open triage cases on the Triage Committee agenda for resolution. Prepares monthly audits of open Triage complaints.
• Obtains evidence and establishes facts concerning complaints and alleged non-compliance with laws and regulations by determining the validity of the complaints, and to prepare evidence or information for appropriate action.
•  Communicates both verbally and in writing with licensees, attorneys, complainants and/or health facilities for investigation related matters, including investigation related documentation.
• Maintains organized and accurate case investigation files; verbally presents investigation findings before the Nursing Board members; and attends regular monthly meetings as needed to support the Bureau.
• Communicates with appropriate staff about each complaint status (closed, open, remaining in triage).
• Supervises the activities of subordinates in connection with the preparation and maintenance of reports, records and documents, and the completion of assigned duties.

Board Support Responsibilities:

• Provides administrative support to the Board Members. Coordinates the  Board Meeting agendas, ensures quorum, follows up on outstanding items, ensures meetings are posted according to open meeting law. Ensures the  Board Meeting Packet is complete and sent to Board Members using encrypted methods. Liaises between the Executive Director and Board Members.
• Attends Board meetings, maintains minutes and conducts follow up for outstanding items.
• Maintains all Board meeting minutes (electronic and paper). Tracks changes and edits. Ensures Board minutes are signed and posted.
• Provides administrative coordination, scheduling, and support to the Executive Director, Deputy Director and 2-4 Nursing Coordinators including internal requests, requests for other government agencies and outside stakeholders, including Board members. Supervises clerical assistant(s).
• Provides technical assistance and advice to the Board Staff and others.
•  Formulates and develops office-operating procedures with the collaboration and approval of the Executive Director

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to write concisely to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence.
• Capacity to maintain accurate records and to analyze and determine the applicability of data; to draw conclusions from the data and to make appropriate recommendations.
• Skilled in exercising discretion in handling confidential information.
• Capacity to communicate effectively in verbal presentations and to respond to questions and feedback as well as work respectfully with others in group meetings and discussions.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources; controlling work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations; determining subordinates' training needs and providing or arranging for such training; motivating subordinates to work effectively; determining the need for disciplinary action and either recommending or initiating disciplinary action.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience as a licensed professional in the field of Nursing including practice in the areas of patient safety and process improvement.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and enforcement, nursing licensure and regulation, regulatory board(s) activities and administrative operations.
• Skilled in reading and interpreting legal documents such as court decisions, criminal records, and contracts.
• Detail-oriented and organized, with strong writing skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong typing skills and experience in report writing, including the ability to prepare charts and tables as necessary.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

About the Department of Public Health:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.
 
We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.
 
DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health​

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in investigatory or law enforcement work, or regulatory administration work (B) and equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

A Bachelor's or higher degree may be substituted for a maximum of the two years of the required experience.*

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.