Career Map: EHR/IT Roles
Application System Analyst
Summary:
Under direct supervision, assists in responding to requests from users for new or modified systems. This may involve planning, designing and analyzing various programs or software such as an Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI), which is a database that is used across a healthcare organization to maintain consistent, accurate and current demographic and essential medical data on the patients seen and managed within its various departments. May help in the consultation with users to identify current operating procedures for single departmental changes, define system requirements, and determine programming and/or application functionality requirements. Learns to create technical and procedural designs for new or revised applications, including system specifications and programming guidelines. May assist in the documentation to describe application changes for program development and corrections.
Educational Background:
- Associate’s degree/technical school or equivalent required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required
Experience Preferred:
- Three years of experience in field
- Experience in systems development lifecycle, including requirements, gathering, and design
- Background in healthcare sciences or information systems
Department Physician Coordinator
Summary:
Serve as HIM, IT or Healthcare Documentation Department liaison to physicians. Provide front line customer service while building relationships with the physician groups. Duties will depend upon the individual area and the responsibilities required to serve the physician community.
Educational Background:
- Minimum of associate’s degree required
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience Required:
- Minimum three years’ experience in a similar role
Department Technical Analyst
Summary:
Maintains accountability for managing software/data needs and technical services for area of accountability, in collaboration with the Information Services (IS) department staff. Performs the initial analysis of data, develops customized reports to facilitate meaningful interpretation of the data, and provides education support to users.
Educational Background:
- Bachelor’s degree (equivalent education and experience) required
Experience Required:
- Two years of related/relevant experience
- Experience with multiple software programs
EHR IS/IT Manager
Summary:
Management of IS/IT staff to meet organizational goals and IS/IT department within approved budget. Duties and responsibilities include the following: Metrics, which define and measure operational productivity and quality. Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness, which sets operational and quality targets, regularly monitors efficiency using metrics, uses industry statistics and information to validate efficiency and effectiveness, and maintains and applies technical and business acumen to increase service value. Relationship Management, which shows a high-level understanding of customer’s business processes and key issues, and builds working relationships with key customers. Project and Process, which demonstrates knowledge of the principles and practices of project and process management and the applications that support them, and uses project management tools and processes to effectively manage projects. Resource Identification and Allocation, which assesses responsibilities and defines required resource skills and tasks, and manages salary resources to perform responsibilities. Development, which ensures associates have the necessary experience and training needed to support the area, delegate responsibility to associates effectively, and has defined goals and objectives for each associate with progress measured on a periodic basis. Financial Impact, which manages financial budget of responsible section to include budget forecasting, expense projections, and spending within the fiscal year. Maintains service contracts, purchased services, travel, software, etc.
Educational Background:
- Minimum of bachelor’s degree in Information Systems or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience required
Experience/Skill Sets:
- Minimum of 6 to 10 years’ equivalent experience and 5 or more years’ experience in Information Systems or Project Management required
- Six to 10 years’ equivalent experience preferred
- Healthcare systems experience desirable
EHR/SR Trainer
Summary:
Individual who has knowledge of technology and the common work flow/requirements of healthcare documentation. Assists in the preparation and transitioning process and training of staff and clinicians of the appropriate use of new systems/tools. Develop and assist with creation of templates and macros, perform training sessions for new staff, and address groups of incoming residents/HIM staff. Provide feedback to EMR/EHR developers for product improvements.
Educational Background:
- RHIT or equivalent (HIM data analyst)
Experience/Skill Sets:
- Healthcare background
- Strong computer skills with possible continuing education required in basic IT support to enhance ability to train others
- Strong communication skills
- Knowledgeable in all areas of documentation requirements
- Good “troubleshooting” skills as well as skill in the healthcare documentation process
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
IS/IT HIM System Support Analyst
Summary:
Supports healthcare applications and handles in-depth support of EMR/EHR systems. Contributes toward building, implementing, and maintaining an electronic health system. Investigates and resolves computer software and hardware problems of users. Answers questions, applying knowledge of computer software, hardware, and procedures. May train users on software and hardware on-site or in classroom. May perform the initial analysis of data and develop customized reports to facilitate meaningful interpretation of the data.
Educational Background:
- Associate’s degree/technical school or equivalent required
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience/Skill Sets Required:
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Skilled at managing change
- Good problem-solving/analytical, time management, and prioritization skills
- Possess some working knowledge of current healthcare technology
- Experience identifying and troubleshooting PC issues
- Familiarity with multiple systems within the same clinic (lab, x-ray, EHR)
- Experience in systems development lifecycle, including requirements, gathering and design preferred
Experience/Skill Sets Preferred:
- Two or more years of experience
Patient Portal Liaison
Summary:
Process, maintain, and review various work queues within the EHR platform. Provide frontline support and customer service followup to patients. Gather data and maintain spreadsheets. Duties and Responsibilities include processing assigned EHR work queues/modules and in-basket folders to process both clinical results and/or clinical documentation timely. Monitor and process organizational distribution/faxing platform for errors and resolve related issues.
Educational Background:
- Minimum of high school diploma or GED required
- Associate’s degree preferred
Experience/Skill Sets:
- Minimum of 3 to 5 years’ equivalent experience required
- Six to 10 years’ equivalent experience preferred
- Customer service oriented with excellent interpersonal and critical thinking skills
- Extensive medical transcription/healthcare documentation knowledge required
- Microsoft Office and associated dictation/transcription technology required
- Healthcare background and related experience in EHR functionality and HL7 interfaces preferred
Physician Liaison to Healthcare System
Summary:
Serves as a liaison between the health system, independent physicians and hospitals, and hospital administration promoting our quality, services, and technology, while building positive working relationships. Works in a highly collaborative team environment and provides general guidance for specific internal and external physicians and clients. Key responsibilities include participating in strategic planning, creating, and implementing business development programs and ideas in collaboration with service line leaders (marketing, strategic planning and development, communications and marketing, patient relations, recruitment, and other entities in the system) to develop and grow physician relationships and partnership with health system.
Educational Background:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, healthcare, or related field required
Experience Required:
- Three years’ experience, outside healthcare sales or professional experience working with physicians, as a consultant, educator, or in other roles