POSITION TITLE: Health Informatics Specialist
DEPARTMENT: IT/HHS
LOCATION: Longview, WA
REPORTS TO: IT Director
FLSA STATUS: Exempt; Full-Time
WAGE RANGE: $105,664 - $126,776

CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

***If you are an American Indian/Alaska Native and/or a Veteran and would like this to be considered a preference in hiring, please upload documentation with your resume and cover letter. Acceptable documentation includes Tribal Enrollment card, a letter from your Tribe stating your enrollment, or BIA 4432 and/or DD214.***

Position Summary:

The Health Informatics Specialist plays a key role in bridging technology and clinical care by supporting, implementing, and optimizing Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems and other core health applications for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Department. This position is responsible for working directly with clinicians, providers, and IT staff to ensure that health information systems effectively support patient care, clinical workflows, and regulatory compliance, including HIPAA.

We are seeking a candidate with hands-on experience leading or supporting EMR implementations, as well as a deep understanding of clinical environments. The ideal candidate will be comfortable collaborating with healthcare professionals to translate clinical needs into system functionality, providing training and support, and continuously improving system use to enhance care delivery. This position requires both technical knowledge and strong interpersonal skills to successfully align health IT systems with the realities of clinical practice.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains, analyzes, troubleshoots, supports, and configures EHR and other clinical applications; monitors the health, welfare, and integrity of all core applications, databases, and interfaces.
• Creates and updates EHR interfaces; creates documents in EHR for improving patient care.
• Provides software support to users of the EHR medical records at various clinic locations.
• Provides end-user training on all clinical applications; creates and updates training documentation.
• Acts as liaison between IHS and clinical applications team.
• Performs user management by adding new users, granting appropriate access by profile, deactivating, and reactivating users.
• Keeps abreast of new technologies and principles by attending seminars, educational workshops, classes, and conferences to maintain certifications.
• Contributes to team effort and accomplishes related results as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Design, develop, and manage healthcare information systems to ensure they meet medical, legal, and ethical standards.
• Train and support staff in the use of new systems or technologies
• Analyze health data to help improve patient care and outcomes.
• Work closely with providers to clarify their needs and identify how information systems can support their work.
• Maintain patient data security and confidentiality according to healthcare laws and standards.
• Collaborate with IT professionals to troubleshoot system problems.
• Evaluate and recommend new health informatics technologies and applications.
• Contribute to research and development initiatives in health informatics.
• Ensure interoperability of systems for seamless data exchange between different healthcare providers
• Create and maintain documentation for system usage and procedures.
• Collect, manage, and analyze patient data, using health information technology and data analysis tools.
• Design, develop, and manage health information systems to ensure they meet medical, legal, and ethical standards.
• Conduct training sessions to teach health professionals how to use data systems.
• Implement and maintain health information privacy and security programs.
• Develop and use effective health informatics metrics to measure and improve patient care.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to implement effective and efficient health informatics systems.
• Works with federal and state partners to ensure systems are current
• Ensure all data management procedures comply with HIPAA and other relevant regulations. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of traditional forms of government and tribal customs and traditions.
• Knowledge of MIS and IT concepts, principles, and practices; computer operations and user environments; and enterprise applications in a clinical environment.
• Knowledge of federal copyright laws as they pertain to the use of computer software.
• Knowledge of and experience with Windows 10 Professional operating systems, enterprise systems, Microsoft Domain networking, various programming languages, or Windows scripting.
• Knowledge of current technological developments/trends in the area of expertise.
• Strong critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Skill in analyzing problems, projecting consequences, identifying solutions, and implementing recommendations.
• Ability to plan, implement, test, and troubleshoot system applications.
• Ability to develop and write systems and applications documentation and guides for users.
• Ability to provide a range of systems training and support activities for users.
• Ability to perform maintenance on systems and devices.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to interact and maintain good working relationships with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds, employees, and officials.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict timelines.
• Ability to maintain privileged confidential information.
• Strong knowledge of health information systems and databases
• Strong knowledge of healthcare laws, regulations, and ethics (e.g., HIPAA)
• Proven experience as a Health Informatics Specialist or similar role
• Proficient in medical coding and terminology
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, MIS, Health Informatics, or related field.
• Three years’ experience providing hardware, software, and user support in a clinical environment.
• Three years’ experience supporting major EHR/EMR software and associated systems 1. H.S. RPMS/EHR preferred.
• Experience within a Windows Server environment preferred.
• A combination of post-high-school education and experience serving in a similar position may be used to meet the education and experience requirements. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
• A valid driver’s license is required when driving vehicles for work-related purposes.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background screening/investigation according to the established requirements below.

Tribal preference in accordance with Cowlitz Indian Tribe Code and CIT Employee Policies and Procedures Handbook shall apply to all positions. All positions are required to adhere to CIT’s established safety policies regarding vaccine requirements and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Background Investigation Requirements:

• Pre-employment drug screen.
• Reference checks, education, and employment verification.
• Federal, state, and/or tribal criminal history and sanction checks, including fingerprint verification.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee occasionally is required to stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 20 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in an office or clinical setting with a moderate noise level. Situations occur where PPE (personal protective equipment) is needed. Evening and/or weekend work may be required. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common.