Nurse Practitioner – Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO)

Topeka, Kansas, Kansas, The Nurse Practitioner (Chief Health Informatics Officer) position establishes a formal informatics leadership presence at the facility level. The formal presence ensures that knowledge of informatics is infused throughout the VA EKHCS and that health information issues affecting the delivery of care are clearly articulated and raised appropriately for action. The focus is to optimize effectiveness of patient care delivery and systems management in support of VHA mission and goals. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U. S. C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate’s graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Master’s or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i. e. , Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Preferred Experience and Certifications – Previous Informatics experience is preferred. Greater than 2 years creditable fulltime experience as a Health Informaticist. Experience using VISTA, CPRS, CHCS, AHLTA, or Cerner Electronic Health Records (EHR). Experience installing and implementing new EHR. Displayed knowledge of, and experience utilizing effective change management strategies to affect a qualitative or quantitative change. Preferred Additional Education: Master’s degree or higher in a related field with progressive leadership and project management experience. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse IV – Master’s degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 4-5 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and appropriate basic or advanced certification desired, and approximately 3-4 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted. [“The aim of clinical informatics is to improve health care delivery processes and outcomes through effective use of information and knowledge. The Nurse Practitioner assigned as Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) will use knowledge of patient care combined with the understanding of informatics concepts to achieve the following: assess information and knowledge needs of the health care professionals and patients; characterize, evaluate and refine clinical processes; develop, implement and refine clinical decision support systems; and participate in the procurement, customization, implementation, management, evaluation and continuous improvement of clinical information systems. At a minimum, the incumbent will perform the following eight core informatics functions: application support, business architecture management, enterprise data management, content management, system optimization, change management, requirements management, and partnership management. Scope: As the resident expert in clinical informatics and health IT, the CHIO serves as the primary advisor to the Medical Center Director, Chief of Staff, Deputy Director, Associate Director for Patient Care Services, Associate Director and other facility leaders. The CHIO is expected to be a strong agent for change and must demonstrate an ability to understand the needs of professional counterparts, for example, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, etc. In addition, the CHIO must demonstrate understanding of the VA EKHCS organizational structure and the role informatics plays within the organization. The CHIO must demonstrate a mastery of: Medical knowledge by being a clinician independently licensed in a State, Territory or the District of Columbia; The health care environment, including how business processes influence health care delivery and the flow of data among the major domains of the health care system; How information systems and processes enhance or compromise the decision making and actions of health care team members; Re-engineering health care processes; Fundamental information system concepts, including the life cycle of information systems, the constantly evolving capabilities of information technology and health care, and the technical and non-technical issues surrounding system implementation; How clinical information systems impact users and patients, how to support users and how to promote clinical adoption of systems; Leading organizational change, fostering collaboration, communicating effectively and managing large scale projects related to clinical information systems. PATIENT CARE Play key role in using the capability of the VA clinical information systems to assist practitioners in doing the right things for the right patients at the right time.

Ensures adequate support to measurably improve the quality of data and the transfer of clinical information between providers. Ensures valid information is available to the patients and to their health care practitioner. Coordinates the use of electronic health record software packages for the provision of quality clinical care as well as the use of clinical decision support tools to streamline the process of patient care and provide accurate date in a timely manner. Rational therapeutics within the Medical Center are assisted by this process. Ensure the VHA EHR operates in a way that improves patient care, ensures patient safety, and meets the needs of providers through continuous evaluation, testing, and improvement of the system. Conduct patient care/clinical duties at least 10% of the time to maintain clinical competencies. TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATICS Evaluates clinical computing systems; analyze and evaluate the effect of interventions on health outcomes. Enable healthcare capabilities and the evolution of technology adjoined to the EHR to deliver quality care by developing, implementing, monitoring, maintaining and optimizing informatics tools and access to them. Evaluate, document, analyze, prioritize, and recognize requirements for the improvement of the EHR and other systems in collaboration with the end-user. Expand and enhance patient access to patient information through the various initiatives, and further the effective and efficient use of medical information systems for patients.

DATA WAREHOUSE Manage all aspects of VA EKHCS Data Warehouse including architecture, database structure, reporting services, training and education and utilization. Effectively create, integrate, disseminate and manage data for all enterprise applications, processes and entities requiring timely and accurate data delivery. Use VA EKHCS Data Warehouse to provide data to management for strategic and operative planning and employ such data to guide management decisions. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. ”]

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