Perioperative Clinical Informatics Coordinator, Full-time, Days - Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Perioperative Clinical Informatics Coordinator (PCIC) reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Perioperative Clinical Informatics Coordinator (PCIC) under general supervision, modify and maintain existing perioperative clinical information systems to ensure ongoing data accuracy, support for patient care and operational management, process improvement initiatives, and appropriate integration with other institutional systems.

Gather and analyze prospective user needs for developing and implementing new modules or functionality and/or newly acquired clinical information systems. The PCIC documents results, presents findings, recommendations and specifications.

Work as the information technology (IT) expert in perioperative services; collaborates with IT and Surgical Services leadership to translate and implement user requirements into technical specifications and system design.

Collaborate with Surgical Services leadership to ensure Clinical Informatics concerns are incorporated into strategic department and organizational initiatives. Works with users to define functional requirements and identify opportunities to leverage system functionality and technology.

Act as an advocate and a primary support for clinical end users. Support duties include provision and coordination of updated training processes, accurate orientation of staff to new system functions and design, and appropriate system security and access.

Responsibilities:

• Works within the NMH Surgical Services Department, which includes: the Operating Rooms, Pre & Post-operative areas, Central Sterile Supply and the Pre-Operative Clinic.

Existing system on-going support and maintenance:

• Modify and maintain existing clinical information systems to ensure on-going data accuracy, support for patient care and operational management, process improvement initiatives, and appropriate integration with other institutional systems.
• The position is the primary liaison between Surgical Services and IT.
  • Reporting issues, problem-solving and testing applications as needed. Oversee/perform data validation and integrity audits of documentation and charging results using audit reports to ensure credible and accurate software functionality and reporting.
  • Follow-up to ensure data corrections based on audit results and approved departmental policies. Collaborate with IT after review of interface error logs; make data corrections as needed.
  • Develop and maintain, in collaboration with IT, a technical and operational “change management process” (system database or design changes/edits; system utilization processes) sufficient to meet the operational needs of the clinical department and consistent with software capability.
  • EHR project management:
    • Develop EHR optimization requests to meet clinical department needs or requirements, including creation, presentation for system leadership approval, IT collaboration, testing, workplan/process design, training, and post implementation auditing.
  • EHR superuser coordinator:
    • Monthly ad-hoc meetings with pre-anesthesia, preop/postop, intraop, and endoscopy superusers to disseminate information, resolve issues, and develop ideas for optimization.
  • EHR training and education:
    • New staff, yearly competency, ad-hoc, and ongoing updates or upgrades for perioperative staff including nurses, OR billers, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Support go-live efforts for all NM locations (user acceptance testing, at elbow support). Tip-sheet creation and maintenance. Ad-hoc presentations at perioperative department meetings.
• Recognize the need for multi-disciplinary approach to system design, use and expansion.
• Chair/Co-Chair the PCIC (Perioperative Clinical Informatics Cooperative)
• Responsibilities will include oversight over various categories as it relates to Epic OpTime documentation, preference cards, scheduling, Epic item file, and Central Sterile Supply instrument and trays. Some responsibilities as it relates to these categories may include (but not limited to):
  • Provide support during “system downtime” and ensure post-operative entry of clinical data per protocol.
  • Collaborate with Perioperative Educator, Managers, and staff preceptors to ensure documented completion of system competency during new staff orientation and cross-training.
  • Collaborate with IT to edit or modify screen design / database to maintain updated system content consistent with data standardization.
  • Develop / maintain a standardized process for Preference Card maintenance to ensure timely updating of card information.
  • Educate & support clinical staff to maintain clinical content in a timely manner.
  • Understand standard processes within various systems to maintain integrity (i.e. Peoplesoft, Epic, and Wavemark)
  • Performing audits and review of surgical cases and physician documentation with the goal to minimize revenue loss and compliance issues. Audits may include review of scheduled vs. performed procedure, CPT, HCPCs coding, documentation of supply and implants.
  • This position works closely with Surgical Services business functions and Finance. Oversee/perform charge capture reconciliation daily to identify suspended charges and errors in order to make corrections and ensure accurate patient billing; particular emphasis on surgical and anesthesia minutes, supplies and implants.
  • Epic supply and implant management with daily Materials Management and surgical team lead(s) collaboration to ensure accurate charging and documentation. Includes supply management and preference card maintenance updates in applicable systems.
  • Maintenance and updates to tray count sheets and catalog instrumentation for data integrity.
• Act as “first responder” for information system trouble-shooting (network, software, hardware, or training); determine need for IT or Help Desk. Recommends solutions to computer problem affecting delivery of care; updates standards, policies and procedures as needed.
• Advocate for clinical system use, data standardization, clinical data integration and report analysis by participating in (but not limited to):
  • Perioperative Management meetings
  • Clinical Practice Committee
  • Value Analysis

• Clinical Communications and EHR (Electronic Health Record) Optimization Council, Co-Chair:
  • Maximize technology, innovation, and research to cultivate exceptional clinical and leadership practice patterns to achieve high reliability that is data driven.
  • identify and escalate recognized or potential issues through the Health System Collaboratives.
  • Presents project findings, recommendations, and specifications to user department managers, supervisors, and/or administrators.
  • Provide training and education support to end users.
  • Performs related duties as required.

General Responsibilities:

• Attend and participate in in-service and educational programs.
  • Complete educational programs to maintain competency in information systems field; may attend seminars, conferences, and workshops as directed.
  • Maintain clinical proficiency and remain knowledgeable of all perioperative phases of care and corresponding regulatory and reporting requirements.

Required:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Current State of Illinois, Registered Professional Nurse license
• Specialty certification (i.e. CNOR, Informatics, CPC)
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a perioperative nurse
• Effective verbal and written communication skills are necessary to advise and consult with user personnel and make formal presentations of project findings and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop downtime procedures, familiarity with problem analysis and software configurations.
• High level of proficiency in ability to problem-solve, to include assessing user needs and determining appropriate systems applications or requirements.

Preferred:

• Masters in Clinical Informatics
• Formal training in system analysis with emphasis on user relations, data gathering techniques, and management of information systems is required.
• Experience in the management of clinical information systems.
   

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.