Clinical Informatics Specialist

Job Description

Job Description:
Job Summary: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) Informatics Branch is recruiting for a Clinical Informatics Specialist III to join an exciting team developing innovative solutions to strengthen CDPH’s public health data ecosystem. The incumbent will join the  team developing innovative informatics and public health data collection, management, and analysis systems, and identifying and implementing strategies for improving existing public health surveillance data systems and infrastructure. Responsibilities will include: Contributing to the development, implementation, and maintenance of enhanced infectious disease public health surveillance projects. Improving interoperability of CDPH data systems and integrating these solutions with local health jurisdictions (LHJs) and other relevant public health partners to improve surveillance of reportable infectious diseases. Facilitating electronic collection, storage, and transfer of data relevant to infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology. Participating in complex data analysis, database design, and data quality assurance and quality improvement projects. Developing applications and tools to facilitate monitoring and governance for pipelines and data systems Developing protocols and guidelines and providing information and technical assistance to support local health jurisdiction, community-based organization, clinical, and other CDPH program partners in their application data modernization. Innovating new solutions to address stakeholder needs The incumbent will join the Data Operations unit. This unit is responsible for creating and maintaining processes and tools which support data quality monitoring, data system governance and access, sharing data between partners, and streamlined federal reporting. This position requires strong programming (SQL, R, and/or Python) and/or informatics knowledge to support data analysis, database design, and data quality assurance and quality improvement projects. The position will interact and collaborate with several multidisciplinary CDPH teams as well as other internal and external partners as they contribute to the CDPH mission of prevention and control of communicable diseases. Department: UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS) is dedicated to improving health and reducing the burden of disease in the world’s most vulnerable populations. It integrates UCSF expertise in all of the health, social, and biological sciences, and focuses that expertise on pressing issues in global health. IGHS works with partners in countries throughout the world to achieve these aims. IGHS seeks to improve health worldwide, especially in developing countries, through research that informs policy. IGHS is committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment as we work towards becoming an anti-racist organization. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. Please see our statement on anti-racism here: https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/statement-structural-racism. The CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) cooperative agreement provides funding to CDPH to improve detection, prevention, and response to the growing threats posed by infectious diseases through enhanced surveillance, prevention, intervention, communications, coordination, and partnerships. Staff hired through ELC contribute to infectious disease work across the Center for Infectious Disease (CID) in CDPH. This specific position will join staff in the Informatics Branch of the Division of Communicable Disease Control . The scope of the Informatics Branch’s work includes managing, analyzing, and reporting on data from many systems including laboratory testing, cases, vaccinations, genetic testing, hospitalizations, and more.

Qualifications:
Required: - Bachelor's degree in public health, health care information technology, computer science, or related area, and / or equivalent combination of experience / training PLUS either 3 years’ of experience in computer or data pipeline programming and database management, OR 3 years working in public health - Strong skills associated with statistical analysis, database management and systems programming, including SQL, R, and/or Python. - Broadly encompassing or in-depth knowledge of clinical, health systems, health analytics, or public health informatics. - Thorough knowledge of all relevant clinical or public health informatics software and systems, and of the highly-complex concepts, principles, policies, methodologies, techniques, best practices, regulations, and standards practices involved with health systems, health analytics, public health surveillance or electronic medical data management. - Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to quickly analyze problems, determine appropriate level of intervention, and develop and apply effective solutions, collect and analyze system performance data, and produce substantive reports and analyses - Strong problem-resolution skills, with the ability to quickly diagnose problems, and develop, test, and implement appropriate and effective solutions in a timely manner - Ability to work with senior staff and managers in clinical information technology, health care management, and business analytics, serving as a technical resource and providing advice and counsel on issues of functionality, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, policy, and performance - Strong ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing. Preferred: - Master’s degree in computer science, informatics, public health, biostatistics, epidemiology or epidemiology and biostatistics and / or equivalent combination of experience / training PLUS either 1 year of experience in computer or data pipeline programming and database management, OR 1 year working in public health - Detail oriented, with proven ability to effectively manage time, see projects through to completion, organize competing priorities, and effectively address complex, urgent issues as they arise - Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate productively, work in a team environment, and to train and support clinical informatics users at all professional and technical levels throughout the medical center - Strong ability to think creatively to recommend action steps or strategize solutions relative to public health surveillance, epidemiology, informatics, program evaluation, or research. - Demonstrated proficiency relating to logical data design, data warehouse design, data integration, and data modeling.