Provider Informaticist I - Ambulatory - St. Mary's County

General Summary of Position
Functions as the clinical expert, educator, consultant, leader, and researcher for information systems. Responsible for the planning, development, implementation, maintenance, evaluation, and training of information systems to improve processes. Functions as an internal consultant and resource to all personnel and will provide direction and education for all clinical information initiatives in accordance with the strategic objectives of MedStar Medical Group (MMG) and MedStar Health. Monitors and evaluates opportunities for technical innovations and enhancements for MMG ensuring that the applications and systems utilized are consistent with professional standards of best clinical practice.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists in establishing and maintaining a therapeutic and safe environment that facilitates and supports the framework for professional clinical practice based upon evidence-based practice in order to achieve quality patient outcomes.
• Utilizes approaches and strategies in collaboration with the healthcare team that support and optimize patient care outcomes that are based on the interdisciplinary plan of care.
• Functions as a facilitator and innovator for state-of-the-art clinical care with direct involvement in implementing and evaluating new techniques and equipment for safety cost-effectiveness and benefits related to clinical practice.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and contributes to the evolving knowledge base related to health informatics. Identifies the informational and computer technology requirements of clinicians to augment the work clinicians do by encompassing patient care education administration and research.
• Evaluates and revises existing clinical information systems. Analyzes designs and implements clinical information systems and processes based on customer requirements. Provides analysis and advanced support including hardware maintenance troubleshooting component replacement and repair system monitoring validation and the installation and maintenance of software.
• Assesses and analyzes data to identify practice environment and patient care issues and develops appropriate programs and change processes to improve clinical practice. Develops and implements educational strategies to promote computer literacy within the medical group. Develops training plans to implement new technology within clinical areas.
• Engages in external and internal formal and informal teaching to clinicians and other health disciplines as required. Collaborates in planning educational activities in accordance with national standards as appropriate.
• Works collaboratively within interdisciplinary healthcare team to seek and utilize information (including evidence-based practice/research findings) to develop implement and support organizational objectives patient care standards and quality of care.
• Establishes develops and maintains effective relationships working agreements and quality partnerships within the shared decision-making model and within the model of care to ensure quality patient care across the continuum and to secure resources to support evidence based patient care.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field of Health Informatics through a variety of professional activities including but not limited to reading the appropriate literature and attending related seminars and conferences. Pursues continuous scholarly growth by engaging in scholarly activity such as innovative program work research papers at regional or national conferences publications and additional graduate work.
• Works as the MMG liaison and project manager for information system initiatives. Recommends and manages the interventions to increase acceptance and adoption of clinical applications to encourage the use of information technology in the provision of patient care. Evaluates and ensures compliance and consistency of use of business and clinical applications.
• Performs business process analysis needs assessment and cost/benefit analysis in an effort to align information technology solution with business initiatives.
• Ensures and promotes compliance with unit divisional and hospital policies and procedures Department of Health Joint Commission and other regulatory standards and takes corrective action when deficiencies occur.
• Guides and facilitates the development and modification of performance improvement planning and activities. Documents existing processes within MMG to establish a baseline for the development of improvements. Collaborates with and assists MMG end users and Information Systems to make decisions about how data will be displayed and accessed. Prepares reports maintains records and compiles statistics as required.
• Integrates evidence into all clinical informatics and education activities. Assures timely audit reports and communicates recommendations for further action.
• Actively participates in research evidence-based practice (EBP) and performance improvement activities. Activities include but are not limited to supporting integration of research into practice increasing staff knowledge and competence about research and EBP and actively collaborating in research studies. Critically analyzes current clinical research for utilization in the expansion and improvement of patient care and patient outcomes.

Minimal Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's degree required
• Master's degree in Informatics or Information Management preferred
• One year of relevant education may be substituted for one year of required work experience.

Experience

• Min 3 years of progressively more responsible informatics job related experience required
• Experience in systems analysis/programming, customer service, information systems and/or project management preferred
• Prior experience in an IS or clinical related role preferred
• One year of relevant professional-level work experience may be substituted for one year of required education.

Licenses and Certifications

• Special certification registration or licensure preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• PROBLEM SOLVING: Job requires the highest level of problem solving. The work requires identifying and resolving very complex problems such as developing innovative solutions based on extensive cross-functional knowledge of the entire medical group. INTERNAL CONTACTS: Internal contacts necessary to effectively negotiate persuade or present issues to others within the Hospital. EXTERNAL CONTACTS: Frequent interactions with patients, family and visitors. Frequent contact with corporate IS staff and IS managers at all levels of the organization. Occasional interaction with representatives from technology vendors community agencies credentialing agencies and professional organization(s). INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT: Work assignments are generally received in the form of broad goals for area(s) of responsibility and require considerable judgment regarding the interpretation of policies development of procedures and selection of appropriate courses of action.