The mission of the Clinical Informatics Department (CID) is to realize the full benefits of OHSU’s clinical information systems. The department will apply the science of informatics to enable excellence in patient care services, to educate learners, and to advance the methods of applied informatics.

 

The OHSU Nurse Informatics Specialist (NIS) provides design, analysis, sponsorship, and recommendations for the implementation and maintenance of clinical information systems (CIS) and their associated clinical and business processes. Consistent with Oregon Nurse Practice Act, and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards for Informatics Nursing, the NIS is a change agent, and supports the inter-professional team in all facets of data and information management, especially the technical, cultural, and process change requirements for effective socio-technical systems in a Culture of Safety. NISs at OHSU provide expertise in any or all of the functions delineated in the Scope and Standards, and apply evidence- informed practice representative of the domains of nursing science, information science, and computer science.

 

The Incumbent will observe due care, objectivity and respect for confidentiality. All employees must keep confidential what they hear and what they see when handling, reviewing, or observing: communications and records thereof (calls, email, pages, fax, etc.), data transmission, databases, or other forms of information Confidentiality extends to the identities of the parties of the communications, and even to the fact that the communication took place. When sharing information, consider whether the recipient has a true “business need to know.”

 

CID employees are responsible for the security of OHSU technology. In exercising their duties, CID employees must follow OHSU's security directives, incorporating security measures in the delivery of their everyday tasks, and are required to report security concerns to the ITG Security Engineering team.

Informatics Practice

• Guides the creation and maintenance of clinical and business processes, within evidence-informed use of system capabilities, to collect, record, and share patient data, reduce redundancy, and standardize clinical practice around documentation
• Leads implementation, optimization, and maintenance efforts by demonstrating adherence to informatics practice standards in all phases of the system development life cycle 
• Participates in review and prioritization of requests for change 
• Participates in review and approval of design, implementation, and evaluation of changes to CIS, and of their impact to clinical end users 
• Conducts workflow analysis and needs analysis, as needed · Maintains team and department documentation, as relevant to projects and changes
• Supports the integration of clinical guidelines into practice, CIS solutions, and knowledge bases
• Demonstrates consideration for clinical, financial, and social impacts in all aspects of informatics practice 
• Fosters an organizational culture that promotes evidence-informed creation and use of HIT to accomplish goals 
• Demonstrates a commitment to integration, data standards, and application of HIT as they add value for the end user and the organization.

Collaboration

• Participates in OHSU Healthcare committees as needed, including clinical practice and EHR governance
• Promotes collaborative relationships for consultation, to maximize the effectiveness of HIT solutions 
• Provides consultation for EHR application teams 
• Utilizes advanced communication skills to promote relationships between the team and all stakeholder groups 
• Models proficient nursing informatics practice to interprofessional team members

Outcomes and Quality 

• Promotes the efficient, effective, and secure use of electronic health record data 
• Supports nursing and interprofessional knowledge by assisting with development of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive reports, and their associated workflows
• Supports the reporting prioritization process as needed

Other Duties as Assigned

• RN experience in a clinical role: minimum 5 years
• Informatics experience in an NI role: minimum 3 years, including HIT implementation, optimization, and maintenance
• Experience with at least one third party content vendor in conjunction with an integrated enterprise EHR
• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from an accredited program OR
• Baccalaureate Degree in healthcare related field and Associate or Diploma Degree in Nursing
• Application submitted to State of Oregon for RN license upon acceptance of position, if no current unencumbered Oregon RN license.
• EpicCare accreditation/certification, within 6 months of hire

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Knowledge of the health system as a whole, and differing patient care processes within its settings
• Knowledge of the principles of project management, including documentation and communication
• Knowledge of the principles of process improvement
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in a diverse workforce, including facilitation and presentation skills
• Critical thinking, in all aspects of project and maintenance work, with creativity and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements affecting care processes and supporting HIT

• Nursing Informatics Certification
• Demonstrated success in a dynamic HIT environment, including implementing technology that supported fundamental changes in the clinical environment and RN workflow
• Demonstrated success as a member of a high performing team, while exhibiting intrinsic motivation
• Demonstrated success in proactively pursuing problem resolution to satisfy customer, system, and compliance needs
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple complex tasks to completion at assigned deadline
• Experience in an HIT environment that employed Epic Systems as the EHR software Systems analyst or application management experience in implementing and maintaining an EHR
• Experience in project management
• Experience in process improvement
• Experience with Elsevier’s Clinical Practice Model Resource Center

Office environment, with occasional observations in clinical settings. Department business hours are minimum Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, with fluctuation based on customer and project need. Domestic travel.

 

Length of Orientation

• External candidates: Department Orientation on first day and OHSU New Employee Orientation (NEO) during first week.
• Department onboarding and training over 3 months
• Epic Certification within 6 months of hire

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.