Director of Health Informatics & Clinical Systems

Job Summary

The Director of Health Informatics and Clinical Systems is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, optimization, implementation, security and integration of all health information systems supporting the Pueblo of San Felipe & Wellness Department. The incumbent serves as the principal authority for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), Electronic Health Record (EHR), clinical informatics, interoperability, data governance, healthcare analytics and health information technology initiatives.

This position works collaboratively with healthcare providers, Tribal Administration Information Technology staff, Indian Health Service personnel, and external healthcare partners to ensure efficient, secure and integrated healthcare information management throughout the Health & Wellness Department. The Director serves as the executive champion for the planning, development, procurement, implementation and long-term management of the Pueblo of San Felipe’s future Tribal-owned Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system and health information ecosystem.

The incumbent will lead strategic initiatives that advance Tribal self-governance, Tribal data sovereignty, population health management, interoperability, third-party reimbursement and integrated healthcare delivery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Health Information Technology Leadership:

• Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive Health Information Technology Strategic Plan aligned with organizational priorities and Tribal healthcare needs.
• Provide leadership and guidance regarding healthcare technology investments, innovations, cybersecurity initiatives and system enhancements
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic planning, healthcare transformation, digital health initiatives and organizational growth.
• Develop department policies, procedures, goals, performance measures and operational standards
• Manage Health Information Technology projects, budgets, contracts, vendors and technology resources
• Serve as the primary liaison between Health & Wellness programs, Tribal Administration Information Technology Department, Indian Health Service, software vendors and external healthcare partners RPMS and EHR Administration:
• Serve as the primary administrator and subject matter expert for the Indian Health Service and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Oversee daily administration, maintenance, configuration, optimization and troubleshooting of RPMS and EHR applications
• Manage clinical workflows, templates, note titles, encounter forms, reminders, order sets, health summaries and reporting tools
• Coordinate software upgrades, patch installations, testing, system validation and deployment activities
• Ensure system functionality supports patient care, regulatory compliance, quality improvement initiatives and operational efficiency
• Manage security keys, user access, permissions, menu structures and role-based access controls
• Develop standards and governance processes for system changes and enhancements
• Serve as primary liaison with IHS Office of Information Technology (OIT), Area Office Information Technology staff, Clinical Applications Coordinators and EHR support personnel
• Monitor application performance and identify opportunities for workflow improvement and automation RPMS/HER Applications Oversight:
• Provide oversight and support for applicable RPMS and EHR modules including: o Patient Registration o Scheduling Package o Patient Care Component o Electronic Health Record o Behavioral Health System o Pharmacy Management Systems o Pharmacy Point of Sale o Third Party Billing Interfaces o Clinical Reporting Systems o Immunization Package o Diabetes Management System o Dental Package o Meaningful Use and Quality Reporting Tools o Population Health and Performance Reporting Applications Tribal-Owned Electronic Medical Record Development:
• Serve as executive sponsor and operational leader for the development of the Pueblo of San Felipe’s independent Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platform
• Develop a comprehensive roadmap for implementation of a Tribal-owned health information ecosystem
• Evaluate healthcare technology solutions and provide strategic recommendations regarding future EMR procurement and implementation
• Lead needs assessments, workflow analyses and readiness evaluations to support future system transitions
• Develop business requirements and specifications for future healthcare technology acquisitions
• Coordinate vendor evaluations, demonstrations, contract negotiations and implementation planning activities
• Lead the design and implementation of integrated systems supporting Primary Care; Behavioral Health; Pharmacy; Public Health; Community Health; School-Based Health; Registration and Patient Access; and Revenue Cycle Operations
• Promote Tribal data sovereignty through development of governance structures for healthcare information ownership, stewardship, privacy and security
• Develop transition plans supporting migration from existing systems to future technologies while minimizing disruptions to patient care
• Champion innovation through telehealth, patient engagement tools, digital health technologies and population health management solutions Shared Electronic Medical Record Interoperability:
• Lead development of shared electronic medical record initiatives between Pueblo of San Felipe Health & Wellness programs and external healthcare partners
• Support interoperability among Tribal health programs, IHS facilities, referral providers, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and specialty providers
• Participate in Health Information Exchange (HIE) initiatives
• Develop data-sharing agreements, workflows and governance standards
• Promote continuity of care through secure exchange of healthcare information
• Ensure compliance with Tribal, federal and industry interoperability standards Data Analytics and Reporting:
• Develop, maintain and monitor organizational dashboards and performance metrics
• Ensure data integrity, quality, accuracy and consistency across all health information systems
• Support organizational reporting requirements to include, but not limited to: GPRA; Clinical reporting system; IHS reporting; Medicaid and Third-party revenue programs; Grant reporting; public health reporting; Tribal performance reporting
• Generate Operational, financial, clinical and quality performance reports for health & Wellness leadership and governing bodies
• Support population health management and strategic decision-making activities Information Security and Compliance:
• Ensure compliance with all applicable standards including HIPAA; Privacy Act; Tribal Policies; IHS Information Security Standards; Federal Health Information Requirements
• Conduct and coordinate security risk assessments and vulnerability reviews
• Maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans related to health information systems
• Monitor system audit logs, security controls and user compliance activities
• Develop and maintain policies regarding privacy, confidentiality and healthcare information security Qualifications:
• Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Health Informatics, Health Information Management, Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Nursing, Related field
• Preferred: Master's Degree in Health Informatics, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Experience/Basic Knowledge: o Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare information technology, health informatics, healthcare systems administration, or clinical systems management. o Minimum three (3) years of supervisory, management, or project leadership experience. o Minimum five (5) years of direct experience supporting, administering, maintaining, optimizing, or managing Indian Health Service Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. o Experience working within an Indian Health Service facility, Tribal 638 Health Program, Tribal Health Organization, or Urban Indian Health Program utilizing RPMS and EHR. o Experience supporting multidisciplinary healthcare teams including providers, behavioral health staff, pharmacists, nurses, public health personnel, community health workers, and registration staff. o Experience developing clinical workflows, templates, reminders, reporting tools, forms, and documentation solutions within RPMS/EHR. o Experience conducting system upgrades, patch management, testing, troubleshooting, user support, and software implementation activities. o Experience supporting GPRA reporting, Clinical Reporting System (CRS), PCC data quality reviews, and federal healthcare reporting requirements. o Experience leading healthcare technology projects and organizational change initiatives. o Experience participating in EHR implementation, optimization, migration, modernization, or conversion initiatives o Previous experience serving as an RPMS Site Manager, EHR Manager, Clinical Applications Coordinator, Health Informatics Manager, or similar healthcare technology leadership role. o Experience developing or implementing shared electronic medical record systems. o Experience evaluating, selecting, implementing, or migrating electronic medical record platforms. o Experience working directly with IHS Office of Information Technology and Area Information Technology programs. o Experience with Tribal healthcare data sovereignty initiatives. o Experience implementing healthcare interoperability solutions and Health Information Exchange programs. o Experience supporting revenue cycle technologies and third-party billing systems. o Experience with Epic, Oracle Health/Cerner, Next. Gen, Athenahealth, e. Clinical. Works, Greenway, or similar healthcare technology platforms. Required Licenses/Certification: o Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) o Project Management Professional (PMP) o Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) o Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) o Certified Healthcare CIO (CHCIO) o Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI) o IHS RPMS/EHR Certification or equivalent training credentials o Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Physical Requirements: Must have manual dexterity to enter and retrieve data from a computer. Ability to sit and stand for long periods. Bends and stoops regularly. Preferences: San Felipe Preference and Veteran’s Preference