Director-Applications IT

The Methodist Hospitals•Merrillville, IN

About The Position

The Director of IT Applications leads the strategy, implementation, and ongoing support of clinical and business application systems across our network of hospitals and clinics. The Director oversees Epic ambulatory and revenue cycle modules along with along with other revenue cycle and ancillary clinical and administrative applications. This person will manage a team of application analysts and will partner closely with finance, compliance, and operations to translate organizational needs into effective application solutions — all while maximizing the value of limited capital and operating resources.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience managing an EHR platform and integrated clinical/business applications.
Strong understanding of healthcare regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and federal interoperability mandates.
Proven ability to manage vendor relationships, contracts, and budgets in a resource-constrained environment.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across clinical, financial, and operational stakeholders.
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Health Informatics, Business Administration, or a related field is Required.
8+ years of progressive IT experience in a healthcare or hospital setting, including 3+ years in a leadership role overseeing application teams is required.
Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, CPHIMS, CHCIO) is required.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with 340B program requirements and safety net-specific funding or reimbursement models (preferred).
Master's degree in Health Informatics, Business Administration, or related field is Preferred.
Experience working within a safety net, public, or critical access hospital system is preferred.
Experience with a major EHR platform (e.g., Epic, Oracle Health/Cerner, MEDITECH) is preferred.
EPIC Certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Director of Clinical Informatics to develop and execute a multi-year application roadmap aligned with the hospital system's clinical, financial, and operational priorities.
Oversee the EHR platform and integrated modules, along with revenue cycle, ambulatory, and other clinical and business applications.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of application analysts.
Serve as a key advisor to the CIO on application strategy, vendor selection, and IT governance.
Ensure high availability, performance, and security of mission-critical clinical and business applications.
Establish and monitor service levels for application support, incident response, and change management.
Oversee system upgrades, patches, integrations, and lifecycle planning across the application portfolio.
Partner with clinical, financial, compliance, and operational leaders to translate business needs into application solutions.
Build strong working relationships across departments.
Represent IT Applications in cross-functional governance and project steering committees.
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and licensing to control costs and maximize value from existing technology investments.
Prioritize initiatives that improve operational efficiency, reimbursement capture, and total cost of ownership.
Develop and manage the IT Applications operating and capital budget.
Ensure applications meet HIPAA, Meaningful Use / Promoting Interoperability, 340B (where applicable), and other regulatory requirements tied to safety net funding.
Support audit readiness, data privacy, and security initiatives in partnership with Compliance and Information Security.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.