Health Informatics Specialist—Southern California

Service Line: Federal
Status: Exempt

OVERALL SHORT DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, serves as a member of the Project Team responsible for coordinating and implementing quality improvement (QI) activities with collaborators for specified projects involving physician office quality improvement. This includes generating quality reports from various electronic health record (EHR) systems in physician practices. This position is responsible for maintaining currency of databases related to assigned projects. This position is also responsible for evaluating efficiency and effectiveness and recommending improvements for all work activities that fall within the team responsibilities. Interacts with the project-specific Quality Improvement Organization Support Center (QIOSC) when necessary.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Communicates/consults with collaborators on a regular basis to inform them of project goals, objectives, and quality indicators, as well as ascertains collaborators' needs for technical assistance from HSAG.
2. Assesses current collaborator systems and barriers to QI, EHR implementation, as well as reporting of quality chronic care indicators. Based upon the evaluation, and in collaboration with the project team, determines appropriate interventions and shares these with collaborators.
3. Serves as the lead HSAG contact for assigned physician offices (POs). Responsible for leading POs through QI activities using their EHR and identifying and helping to overcome barriers to a successful implementation of pay-for-performance initiatives on recognized quality measures. Will assist POs in effectively using the EHR for care management and establishing procedures for reporting quality measures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clinical warehouse.
4. Utilizes problem-solving techniques, data and process flow diagrams, statistical process control charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, root-cause analysis, and other QI methods to demonstrate to collaborators how current processes may create or ease bottlenecks in their systems. Provides educational support to collaborators regarding how to reengineer existing processes and sub components or design new ones to improve performance and/or documentation on quality indicators, which are below standards.
5. During face-to-face meetings with collaborators, discusses complex situations and/or fields questions to appropriate HSAG staff members.
6. Documents interventions using appropriate reporting tools such as the Partner database, Contact Database/Diary, and on-site summary reports.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountable for the timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and quality of all assigned functions and tasks.

WORK CONDITIONS

In this position, the employee may be subject to environmental conditions related to vehicular and air travel to and from locations, which may include overnight stays.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS/COMPETENCIES

1. Ability to initiate and direct problem-solving activities.
2. Ability to develop and deliver oral presentations to large audiences and speak at public gatherings.
3. Ability to travel to meetings and presentations in and out of the state.
4. Ability to communicate verbal and written information in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.
5. Ability to use a personal computer and appropriate software programs, such as Crystal Reports. Be familiar with various EHR software programs.
6. Ability to adhere to established company confidentiality policies.
7. Ability to tolerate and use opposing views.
8. Ability to complete work assignments with minimal supervisory input.
9. Ability to adapt to different situations involving a variety of duties characterized by frequent change.
10. Ability to cope with stressful situations by maintaining adequate performance when confronted with pressures of deadlines and time limits.
11. Ability to identify root causes of problems and formulate alternative approaches to solving specific problems from both a technical and organizational point of view.
12. Ability to explain the fundamentals of the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process and assist collaborators to implement CQI in their workplaces.
13. Ability to facilitate collaborative relationships through verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
14. Ability to communicate technical and complex concepts to POs as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Health care professional with a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate science or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Knowledge of EHRs, e-prescribing, registry, health information exchange concepts, as well as health information technology standards is required. Health care quality experience is preferred.
3. Possess general knowledge of data, databases, and networks.
4. Possess general understanding of the changing health care market place, especially in the area of diffusion of technology in the physician office.
5. Proficient in all Microsoft Office products.
6. Proficient in oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.

DISCLAIMER

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, management reserves the right to revise the position or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., changes in personnel, emergencies, work load, technological developments, or company priorities).

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