Clinical Informatics Specialist

Job Description:

VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

JOB DESCRIPTION

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.

TITLE: Clinical Informatics Specialist

JOB OVERVIEW: The Clinical Informatics Specialist (CIS) provides direct end-user support to clinicians in their use of clinical information systems. The scope of support includes all members of the interdisciplinary care team with a primary focus on clinicians. The CIS role is essential to the success of clinicians' use of the electronic health record (EHR), facilitating optimal use to improve patient care delivery.

Clinical support activity includes customizing/creating content within the EHR, working as a liaison with operational leaders, and delivering training, enhancement education, coaching, customer service and problem solving.

The CIS role is pivotal in working with clinical, operational, and IT leaders to analyze, plan, implement and optimize clinical information systems that ultimately improve the quality of care while supporting administrative needs and providing an improved patient experience.

DEPARTMENT: Clinical Informatics

WORK HOURS: Typically, Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or as needed to support department needs.

REPORTS TO: Supervisor or Manager, Clinical Informatics

PREREQUISITES:

• Bachelor's degree in clinical area of practice OR Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics, or another closely related field, required.

• Minimum 3 years' experience of clinical or informatics experience in a healthcare setting using electronic health record systems, required.

• Experience, certifications and/or proficiencies with Epic preferred.

• Current license or licensure eligibility to practice as a clinician preferred.

• Experience in facilitating workflow evaluation and process improvement preferred.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrate skills with ability to collaborate with various teams, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation and systems thinking.

• Able to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all ages served.

• Able to organize and prioritize duties effectively, while handling multiple demands in a rapidly changing environment.

• Able to effectively collaborate with various stakeholders, at all levels, within a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Able to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computerized clinical documentation skills.

• Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.

• Be self-directed in advancing knowledge through continuing education.

UNIQUE PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENT, AND WORKING CONDITIONS :

See Generic Job Description for Administrative Partner

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Generic Job Functions:See Generic Job Description for Administrative Partner.

• Essential Responsibilities and Competencies:

• Teaching / Coaching:

  Provide direct end-user support to clinicians in their use of Epic and other clinical information systems.

  Assist clinicians in gaining & maintaining competency in the use of clinical information systems.

  Develop and present education to clinicians via seminars, individual sessions and training materials regarding documentation, regulations, opportunities and chart audit findings.

  Ensure that education content delivered is consistent with Valley Medical Center policies regarding clinical information system usage.

  Assist in coordinating communication regarding future clinical information system changes, upgrades and downtimes to clinical users.

  Provide input into development of user training.

  Assist with the development of training materials and periodically delivers training.

• Problem Solving:

  Triage issues appropriately.

  Demonstrate willingness to assist clinicians and follow up on previous interactions to ensure the issue has been resolved.

  Recommend procedures and innovative solutions to enhance efficient & productive use of clinical information systems.

  Identify problems with equipment and/or software and effectively communicates the issue to the appropriate IT staff.

  Identify barriers to completion of documentation goals with appropriate interventions.

• Customer Service:

  Demonstrate focused and active listening to clinicians' concerns.

  Utilize expert communication skills, change theory, problem solving strategies and knowledge of resources to create a learning and supportive environment.

  Capture clinician's suggested clinical system improvements and communicates suggestions to appropriate resources.

  Act as an agent of change, assisting clinicians with the dynamic nature of clinical information systems.

  Assist staff to incorporate clinical information systems into their daily clinical practice in a meaningful way.

  Demonstrate "Patients Are First" service skills (example: AIDET).

• Teamwork:

  Establish and maintain effective relationships with healthcare team members.

  Support the established vision of the future for the goals and objectives in the use of clinical information systems.

  Advocate for excellence in use of clinical information systems with a focus on provider documentation.

  Maintain and promotes a positive attitude towards change.

• Clinical Support:

  Evaluate provider documentation in relationship to coding & reporting standards.

  Assist in the evaluation, preparation of and planning for the implementation of clinical information systems and system enhancements and upgrades.

  Assist with development and implementation of change management strategies, particularly as applied towards clinicians.

  Participate in rounding on patient care units and clinics, approaching and engaging clinicians appropriately.

  Conduct periodic chart audits to ensure consistency of documentation of patient care in the EHR.

  Participate in development and revision of hospital policies, procedures/standards related to clinical information systems.

  Collaborate with IT staff and Operations to coordinate resources, resolve issues and develop improved processes for patient care.

• Clinical Information Systems / Clinical Informatics:

  Maintain proficiencies / certifications in agreed upon Epic applications.

  Attend educational programs as applicable to this position to maintain standard expertise.

  Participate in design, build, and testing of clinical information systems enhancements.

  Assist with, lead, and/or co-lead programs and projects as assigned.

  Assist with design and monitoring of clinical decision support tools.

• Miscellaneous:

  Perform other duties / assignments as directed.

Revised: 5/25

Grade: NC11

FLSA: Exempt

CC: 8706

Job Qualifications:

PREREQUISITES:

• Bachelor's degree in clinical area of practice OR Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics, or another closely related field, required.

• Minimum 3 years' experience of clinical or informatics experience in a healthcare setting using electronic health record systems, required.

• Experience, certifications and/or proficiencies with Epic preferred.

• Current license or licensure eligibility to practice as a clinician preferred.

• Experience in facilitating workflow evaluation and process improvement preferred.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrate skills with ability to collaborate with various teams, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation and systems thinking.

• Able to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all ages served.

• Able to organize and prioritize duties effectively, while handling multiple demands in a rapidly changing environment.

• Able to effectively collaborate with various stakeholders, at all levels, within a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Able to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computerized clinical documentation skills.

• Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form in the English language.

• Be self-directed in advancing knowledge through continuing education.