Title: PH Informatics Specialist Lead
State Role Title: Policy Planning Spec II
Hiring Range: $84,364 - $89,478
Pay Band: 5
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: VDH-Central Office
Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
This role will operate under the Division of Informatics and Information Systems (DIIS) within the Office of Epidemiology. DIIS provides expertise, innovative informatics solutions, and trusted information, through data modernization, that facilitates efficiencies and decision making to improve the public's health.
This position is uniquely positioned to ensure electronic feeds for reportable disease information are timely, accurate and comprehensive. This is a pivotal role that takes ownership for the monitoring and maintenance of production feeds to ensure they meet high data quality standards. This position (Production & Quality Coordinator) works with teams across the Division, Office, IT, and Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) to ensure data needs are met for public health reportable disease surveillance.
The Division of Informatics and Information Systems (DIIS) division oversees VDH’s primary surveillance system (VEDSS) and ancillary data systems, the onboarding and receipt of electronic messages from providers and laboratories for disease reporting, and the provision of data sets, analyses and visualizations; as well as spearheading and assisting with other Office of Epidemiology informatics initiatives.
This position serves as a senior/advanced level Public Health Informatics Specialist, Production & Quality Coordinator, within the Office of Epidemiology (OEPI) supporting the Division of Informatics and Information Systems (DIIS) by performing activities related to the management of electronic lab reporting (ELR) , Genomics, and electronic case reporting messages (eCR) from public and private facilities in the production environment. Responsibilities include providing oversight and guidance on production and quality improvement activities, monitoring and tracing data flow from receipt to ingestion of all inbound production approved electronic messages into our state surveillance system, performing routine data quality checks using manual and automated techniques, managing all production error logs, troubleshooting messages to identify root cause and severity of problem for facilities message improvement, generating data quality report cards for external stakeholders, evaluating eCR vs. ELR timeliness, and managing ELR and eCR production functionalities within our state surveillance systems, message tracking system and meaningful use registration. Develops and manages ELR/eCR data management processes, including report development, to employ data quality techniques to ensure data completeness, accuracy, and timelines. Collaborates with facilities to resolve production data issues and inconsistencies within messages for successful consumption into VDH surveillance systems; and maintains up to date provider and contact information. Maintains relevant data management documentation and provides backup support to Integration and Onboarding activities, as needed.
The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life
insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.
Minimum Qualifications
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience of health informatics to include ability to conduct informatics and scientific projects and studies, architecture management and implementing complex data and information standards.
• Considerable knowledge of and experience using epidemiologic and data management methodologies; data QA techniques; and project management strategies and concepts.
• Considerable knowledge of and experience using data QA techniques to identify and resolve data issues, including using software validation tools such as 7Edit and Altova XML Spy.
• Considerable knowledge in troubleshooting data system issues
• Strong data analysis and data management skills with experience in SQL Server environment
• Strong proficiency in writing complex SQL statements
• Proven experience in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to apply and interpret applicable federal and state laws, policies and procedures
Additional Considerations
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in managing HL7 eCR (C-CDA and eICR) and/or ELR messages (versions 2.3.1 and 2.5.1), including understanding of message structures and standards.
• Knowledge of public health disease surveillance including disease reporting requirements and medical
and/or laboratory terminology.
• Ability to perform data analysis using BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and Excel
• Ability to develop and maintain technical and user documentation, education materials and training data system users
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position.
Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Contact Information
Name: Curt Crostic
Phone: N/A
Email: curt.crostic@vdh.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.