VA Information Resource Center

VIReC is looking for a skilled VA data analyst with management experience to lead our Data Knowledge and Documentation team in supporting the use of VA electronic health record (EHR) data and other national VA databases while remaining heavily hands on with product development. This role blends leadership with deep, day-to-day engagement in building the analytic and educational resources that help VA researchers use national data effectively to improve Veteran health and health care. This position requires experience leading and managing teams, familiarity with the use of data in health services research, experience working with large databases, and advanced SQL skills.

As a Senior Data Knowledge and Documentation Specialist (70%), you will be:

• Investigating VA healthcare data.

• Developing insights about how those data support research.

• Turning that knowledge into high quality documentation, technical reports, trainings, and other end user products.

As the DKD team lead (30%), you will be:

• Supervising the Data Knowledge and Documentation team, including evaluation, training, and skills development.

• Shaping VIReC’s data knowledge and documentation portfolio and guiding product strategy.

• Supporting specialists as they move ideas from initial investigation through final documentation and dissemination.

Necessary skills and experience:

• Degree and/or direct experience in health services research, epidemiology, health economics, or related social sciences.

• Experience managing teams.

• Experience leading research projects or large database evaluations.

• 5+ years of experience managing and analyzing VA data sources such as the CDW, Vital Status File, and/or other commonly used VA databases.

• Demonstrable expertise in data management and/or data analysis using SQL.

• Experience examining the quality and utility of large databases.

Data Knowledge and Data Documentation Specialists support the use of VA electronic health record (EHR) data and other national VA databases. This position requires advanced SQL skills, familiarity with the use of data in health services research and experience working with large databases. Incumbents will be responsible for a range of activities related to providing high-quality documentation, education, and consultative resources for VA data users in the following areas:

Necessary skills and experience:

• Degree and/or direct experience in health services research, epidemiology, health economics, or related social sciences.

• 5+ years of experience managing and analyzing VA data sources such as the CDW, Vital Status File, and/or other commonly used VA databases.

• Demonstrable expertise in data management and/or data analysis using SQL.

• Experience examining the quality and utility of large databases.

Join our dynamic team and help power an exceptional customer experience for VA REDCap users nationwide. HelpDesk & Customer Experience Specialists are on the front lines supporting researchers, solving problems, and shaping tools that make data work easier, faster, and better.

Responsibilities include:

• Quickly to acknowledge, triage, and resolve VA REDCap and VIReC HelpDesk questions, capturing details in our ticketing system.

• Guide researchers and data users through effective, informed use of VA REDCap.

• Collaborate creatively with the VA REDCap Support Team to develop tools and streamline workflows using SharePoint, MS 365, and more.

• Track down resources that meet customer needs and clearly communicate what they need to know.

• Spot patterns in customer questions and turn them into impactful FAQs, web content, and other communications.

• Stay plugged into online community forums to strengthen engagement, understand user needs, and spark product improvements.

Necessary skills and experience:

• Degree and/or direct experience in health services research, epidemiology, health economics, or related social sciences.

• Strong proficiency with Microsoft tools (Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Teams, etc.).

• Hands-on experience with REDCap, VA REDCap preferred.

• Working knowledge of data collection and entry applications.

• Reliable data management skills, including accurate data entry and timely reporting.

• Outstanding customer service mindset with excellent verbal and written communication.

• Proven track record of creating positive customer experiences through problem solving and active listening.

The ORD Office for the Sustainment & Implementation of Research EHR Solutions (OSIRES) supports the research enterprise in its use of the electronic health record (EHR). VA has resumed Federal EHR deployments on an accelerated schedule and OSIRES is looking to expand our team in support of both the research transition and the ongoing sustainment and optimization of research EHR use. The Study Build and Maintenance Analyst will enable research Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) at the VA as a recognized subject matter expert (SME), informing and completing research study builds in the EHR, supporting Research & Development activity at VA’s 100+ local medical centers during their system implementation, and responsible for ongoing sustainment of research in the Federal EHR post “go-live”, as described in the job responsibilities below.

Overarching

• Leverage prior expertise and acquire additional knowledge in the new Federal EHR, clinical and business operational workflows, policy, culture, and legacy applications to support delivery of patient care and performance of research studies.

• Represent the perspective of clinical and business operations care teams during implementation and support the VA and VHA mission throughout the implementation process.

• Prepare correspondence, information/decision memos, training materials, and course of action analyses for a variety of audiences.

Build, Validation, and Testing

• Participate in go-live readiness activities, as well as go-live and post go-live sustainment activities, by completing enterprise builds and acting as SME for those builds.

• Build and validate study protocols, study PowerPlans, and study pre-screening rules in the new EHR.

• Maintain research builds in the EHR to ensure clinical and technical accuracy of back-end.

• Conduct formal and informal meetings as a subject matter expert to validate EHR builds, advocate for changes to the EHR, and assist research staff in adopting standardized processes and workflows.

• Manage functional testing to ensure that configurations are effective and are coordinated and implemented as determined by VA EHR Modernization and other Federal oversight bodies.

Knowledge Development and Process Improvement

• Training, evaluation, and implementation of application functionality.

• Know and apply fundamental practices and procedures of various Oracle Health/Cerner applications.

• Identify workflow improvement opportunities.

• Identify potential process breakdowns and provide solutions.

• Serve as a quality control consultant for all aspects of DCWs and application builds.

Necessary skills and experience:

• Detail-oriented; excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.

• Excellent problem-solving, written and oral communication, and customer service skills.

• Ability to communicate complex system issues and train individuals on system usage.

• Expertise with design, development, system configuration, implementation, and support work of information systems for an organization.

• Familiarity with ambulatory and inpatient settings, especially as related to computerized physician order entry (CPOE) activities.

Preferred/Desirable

• Familiar with the Oracle Health (Cerner) EHR, CPRS, and/or other commercial EHR systems.

• Experience building in the Oracle (Cerner) Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.

• Knowledge of clinical workflow in Inpatient, Emergency, Oncology, and/or Ambulatory settings.

• Understanding of clinical research processes.

The ORD Office for the Sustainment & Implementation of Research EHR Solutions (OSIRES) supports the research enterprise in its use of the electronic health record (EHR). VA has resumed Federal EHR deployments on an accelerated schedule and OSIRES is looking to expand our team in support of both the research transition and the ongoing sustainment and optimization of research EHR use. The Site Engagement and Training Manager will enable Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) at the VA as a recognized subject matter expert (SME), advise the Research build team and communicate study needs, develop end user support materials and initiatives, and assist in VHA facility transition activities and sustainment of the EHR post “go live” environment,” in the following areas.

Overarching

• Leverage prior expertise and acquire additional knowledge in the new Federal EHR, clinical and business operational workflows, policy, culture, and legacy applications to support delivery of patient care and performance of research studies.

• Represent the perspective of clinical and business operations care teams during implementation and support the VA and VHA mission throughout the implementation process.

• Prepare correspondence, information/decision memos, training materials, and course of action analyses for a variety of audiences.

Change Management

• Establish and maintain relationships with facility R&D leadership, R&D staff, and other local VHA research groups.

• Conduct meetings to prepare R&D programs for the new Federal EHR and assist research staff with transition activities and adoption of standardized processes.

• Document and support execution of new locally required processes, including billing, research role, and research study management in the Federal EHR.

• Assess and track the EHR needs of the facility’s active research protocols.

• Support mitigations or solutions to identified risks to research study or program processes.

• Develop and refine, in collaboration with program leadership and appropriate stakeholders, change management strategies.

• Support, as needed, national program office functions supporting local research teams (e.g. charge review, user role assignment, etc).

Training and End User Support

• Develop and present training and reference materials related to technical implementation and change management activities, including SharePoint documentation, office hours presentations, process guides, etc.

• Identify gaps in end-user support strategy and propose initiatives or mitigations for closing them.

• Provide, as needed, at-the-elbow and over-the-shoulder end user support.

• Serve as SME and reviewer for EHRM/Oracle-developed training content, including learning labs, tip sheets, QRGs, and end-user training curriculum.

Interface with Broader EHRM and Deployment Project

• Provide supplemental support as-needed for site-specific deployment activities, including local study data collection and validation, site needs assessment, and go-live support.

• Adjust strategy to accommodate changes in EHRM-IO or Oracle deployment strategy, including changes to timeline or contract support.

• Collaborate with OSIRES Study Build and Program Strategy teams to support end-to-end issue management and resolution.

• Serve as internal- and external SME regarding research use of the EHR.

• Represent, as requested, research, the Office of Research and Development, and/or OSIRES on workstreams, projects, or initiatives impacting current or future-state research interests.

Support for EHR Technical and Workflow Development

• Develop technical and workflow expertise in identified areas of focus to support domain-specific workflow development, system configuration, and end-user education.

• Leverage prior expertise and acquire additional knowledge in VA's new EHR, clinical and business operational workflows, policy, culture, and legacy applications to support delivery of patient care and performance of research studies.

• Prepare correspondence, information/decision papers, training materials, and course of action analyses for a variety of audiences, including EHRM leadership.

Necessary Skills

• Ability to communicate complex system issues and train individuals on system usage.

• Experience with training development and delivery in multiple formats (i.e., written, virtual, in-person).

• Ability to communicate or summarize technical or system processes and issues in plain, lay language.

• Excellent problem-solving, written and oral communication, and customer service skills.

• Detail-oriented; excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills. 

Preferred/Desirable

• Experience in one or more areas of Oracle Health (Cerner) Millennium applications, especially PowerTrials, PowerChart, and RevCycle.

• Experience with IRB and other research regulatory bodies.

• Understanding of clinical research processes. 

• Expertise in VA's legacy EHR to understand current state workflows.

• Experience translating project requirements or functional specifications into technical system configurations.