Health IT Project Manager

Coordinates all activities of Health IT projects, from readiness assessment and planning through vendor selection, to completion of implementation. The Health IT project manager is the primary point of contact to meet Health IT project objectives, managing of activities/tasks, ensuring the quality of the team’s work and ongoing improvement.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT 

Bachelor's degree from 4-year college or university; no substitutions.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT 

At least five years experience in a healthcare or information technology related field.

COMPUTER SKILLS

An individual should have knowledge of Accounting software; Contact Management systems; Database software; Design software; Development software; Human Resource systems; Internet software; Inventory software; Order processing systems; Payroll systems; Project Management software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

Must possess a valid driver's license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating. Project Management Certification (PMP) preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

Demonstrates project management experience displaying proficiency with project management software, such as Microsoft Project. Familiarity with healthcare delivery in general, preferably experience in hospital settings.  Good understanding of IT methodologies, theory, and designs. Professional demeanor and positive attitude.  Must focus on customer service and provide excellent communication. Analytical skills to identify problems and offer solutions. Business acumen and insight to clinical processes.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Employee must not and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG’s Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA’s List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).

Ability to elicit cooperation from variety of resources. Ability to defuse tension among teams if the need arises.  Excellent communication capability; persuasive, encouraging, motivating, and have the ability to listen and understand. Sense of responsibility and accountability, takes ownership and has initiative.

Responsibilities:

Routine duties shall include providing health care services to individuals eligible for services in accordance with the self-governance compact and funding agreement between the Cherokee Nation and United States executed under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.  Aids in educating the organization about Health IT, and help assess readiness.  Works with the organization to correct issues, build skills, and acquire improved understanding.  Ensures that project structuring, planning, management, report and closeout methods are utilized.  Structures projects by communicating a clear vision of project objectives and motivating team members, organizes activities into manageable workgroups, and determines effective approaches for task completion.  Plans projects with appropriate timing, resources, and sequencing of tasks to ensure the project is aligned to produce the desired results within an agreed upon time.  Collaborates with Health, CIO on scheduling and prioritizing projects/tasks.  Manages implementation schedules to minimize resource conflict and develop relationships to accomplish activities.  Employs assertiveness to maintain project timelines and achieve goals.  Monitors activities and provides status reports using standard project management processes and tools.  Identifies and reports project scope changes, risks, and opportunities.  Reviews team members quality of work and provides coaching to clarify assignments and objectives.  Closes projects by documenting and analyzing lessons learned and communicates them to others.  Validates the completion of the project and update relevant knowledge bases.  Conducts workflow and process mapping analysis to identify potential functions for the type of Health IT support being sought, such as electronic health records (EHR). Conducts an inventory of any existing information systems to ensure they can connect with the Health IT being sought.  Traces the flow of processes that will be impacted by the technology to understand how they are currently performed and what changes may be applicable.  Reports metrics such as volume and/or time it takes to perform these processes, to conduct a cost/benefit analysis, and/or benefits realization study.  Reviews vendor offerings and make recommendations for review of those most suitable for the practice.   Develops a request for proposal (RFP), manages responses, analyzes results, presents findings, and arranges for demonstrations as applicable.  Manages the vendor selection process for Health IT to ensure fair analysis and unbiased selections. Utilizes information systems, financial, and legal consultants as necessary to help in narrowing the field, calculates return on investment, arranges financing for the project, and negotiates a contract.  Coordinates with the vendor to develop an implementation plan for process improvement, chart conversion, installation, data conversion, system build, testing, training, and other aspects of Health IT implementation.  Oversees the tasks, timelines, and resources necessary to implement the EHR, ensuring that the project stays on time and on budget. Maintains an issues resolution log, escalating issues as appropriate.  Leads the internal implementation team, this may include hardware and/or software installation, network set up, system configuration and user preference design, testing, and training.  Coordinates all vendor implementation activities.  Monitors adoption and use of the Health IT and take/recommend corrective action as necessary.  Ensures continuous process improvement of all projects.  Applies updates as applicable; evaluates, and recommends upgrades and enhancements, and works with users to develop reports and other uses of HIT data.  Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES   

Minimal supervisory responsibility.  (Lead)