OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL QUALITY
Job Description For
HIT Practice Advisor
(August 2010)

REPORTS TO:         HIT Projects Manager
SUPERVISES:          N/A   
FLSA:                       Exempt                       

SUMMARY:
This position supports work for HIT-related contracts, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Regional Extension Center, and any other non-CMS contracts, specifically, the selection, implementation, and utilization of health information technology (HIT) in physician offices to improve patient care management outcomes.  This position is responsible for recruiting and consulting with physician offices/practices related to all aspects of the use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to improve patient care and outcomes, including advice and assistance associated with vendor products, hardware, software and system configuration troubleshooting as well as technical assistance with staffing considerations including but not limited to workflow analysis, EHR utilization, and quality data reporting from EHR systems.   

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Recruit providers and provide technical assistance in all phases of EHR implementation and use, including assessment and analysis of hardware, software, networking, staffing considerations, and workflow analysis to manage information and functional operations necessary to facilitate quality data reporting and meaningful use of the EHR. 

Provide systems workflow advice and office redesign consultation.  Specify in detail operations to be performed by equipment and computer programs and operations to be performed by personnel within the practice.

Provide consultation and technical feedback on the use of the EHR for enhancement of workflow and improvement of care management.

Develop and disseminate feedback materials such as project data reports and scorecards, best practices, workflow analysis results, technical reports, etc.

Gain and maintain functional working knowledge of the primary EHR vendor products (those being implemented in Oklahoma) and build trusted relationships with vendors.  Review EHR system capabilities and limitations to determine where program improvements may be possible within existing system.

Confer with physicians and physician staff to analyze current office procedures, identify problems and learn specific input and output requirements of EHR systems, such as data forms, how data is to be summarized, and formats for reports.

Understand and be able to effectively communicate data integration requirements to physician practices and vendors. Provide advice on best practices for typical EHR system configuration and provide hands-on practice redesign assistance to improve quality of care.

Track progress of quality data reporting with practices and vendors and act as the key point of contact for issue management. Must be familiar with issue-tracking tools and effective communications for issue management and resolution. Must maintain a current, high-level of understanding with regards to multiple Health Information Technology concepts, including but not limited to ARRA, HITECH, and Meaningful Use.

Establish and maintain effective relationships with healthcare providers, their staff and related groups. 

Understand and utilize clinical terminology as it pertains to the medical informatics field.

Represent OFMQ via one-on-one, small group, and large group presentations to providers and industry associations as needed.

Complete assignments and deliverables within contract prescribed and internal deadlines.

Be an active member of the OFMQ team, working to achieve the desired outcomes by which OFMQ will be measured within theme areas, and perform other duties as delegated to ensure OFMQ contract success.  Must be able to work autonomously and independently while maintaining adequate levels of communication with OFMQ team members, via all forms of professional communication including verbal, phone, email, text and data transfer.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Network, personal and laptop computer 
Projection equipment
Fax machine
Copy Machine
Cell Phone/communication device(s)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Bachelor’s degree in an information technology or healthcare related field is required.  Associate degree with equivalent experience will be considered.  Minimum of five years of HIT-related experience in live environments preferred.   Two years experience working collaboratively with clinical personnel, especially physicians, required.   Healthcare informatics, related HIT certification(s), and experience in ambulatory settings highly desirable.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Must understand and be able to expertly communicate vendor implementation project lifecycle methods, establish and manage relationships with vendors and physician offices, and meet project objectives in a timely manner.

Maintain excellent customer relations, communication (internal and external), and professionalism during the course of the project.

Strong technical knowledge of various operating, database and reporting systems.

Working knowledge/familiarity with database reporting products such as SQL programming, Crystal Reports, HTML, HL7 and Java. 

Strong technical writing skills.

Strong customer service background with an ability to communicate effectively across various technical skill levels within the healthcare industry. 

Excellent planning and organizational, and prioritization skills. 

Technical troubleshooting/diagnostics and software installation skills. 

Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Must be able to travel approximately 70-80% of the time including occasional overnight stays.  Travel is primarily statewide but may include out-of-state travel at times. 

Proficient in the use of MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Visio, and e-mail. Proficiency/familiarity with Microsoft Project/similar products highly desirable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed in normal office environment with little or no physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or discomfort associated with noise dust, or dirt.

WORK ETHICS:
Comply with all company policies including attendance and unlawful harassment.  Maintain confidentiality of OFMQ’s core competencies and essential company business information.  Demonstrate appropriate conduct; comply with all legal obligations and responsibilities, and avoid direct conflict of interest at all times.

CONFIDENTIALITY PRACTICES:
Incumbent will take appropriate measures to educate departmental staff on the importance of protecting, and the practice of ensuring, confidentiality of all information seen in the course of performing their job duties.

COMMENTS:
This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.  It identifies major responsibilities and requirements of this job.  Request may be made to perform other related or non-related tasks at any time.