Informatics Specialist-Pharmacy Automation

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking a full-time Informatics Specialist to join our team. This position will provide workflow analysis, optimization, application build, testing and implementation of automaton systems related to pharmacy workflow. This position includes working with Project Management groups, key stakeholders, vendors, contactors, and end users regularly. Additionally, this position will be responsible for automated medication-use systems, including automated dispensing cabinets, centralized automation, automated prescription fill systems, and medication preparation and administration technology, as well as other related projects within pharmacy. Monitoring of production issues to allow for optimization, testing special updates and system documentation are also required. This position will work for all UI Healthcare locations. This position will require significant in-person presence to assist with automation issues. This position will be required to travel across various locations throughout the health-system. Translation of Clinical Practice into Electronic Health Information · Serves as a liaison among leaders, end-users, and IT project managers with a focus on consistent and ongoing customer support in order to achieve accuracy, efficiency, and satisfaction when using the pharmacy automation in conjunction with the electronic health record. · Works with pharmacy areas to identify and prioritize areas of greatest need through collaboration with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and management staff. · Works closely with nursing, lab, and HCIS staff to determine needs and assist with prioritization. · Ability to differentiate between multiple options and vendors based on features and facility needs. · Ability to discuss capabilities, features, and uses for all tools for specific platform with little or no use of advanced vocabulary or technical jargon. System Design and Testing · Serves as the primary contact for the support of ongoing pharmacy-related system needs, working with end-users to define system requirements and understand business needs. · Organizes and manages customer-driven service in an efficient, timely manner. · Translates clinical and technical requirements into system design and workflow customization, data collection, and database builds. · Guides content build working in collaboration with other staff in the creation and customization of system parameters. · Develops sample input data, and tests system changes for usability, performance and adherence to standards. Verifies results with end-users and other IT staff. · Obtains and maintains Epic certification. · Obtains vendor related training for use of automation related to maintenance and set up of automation. Education, Training, and Support · Provides education to a variety of audiences through project collaboration, one-on-one sessions, and small group demonstrations to allow for understanding of changes. · Contributes to application go-live support efforts by providing either one-on-one or small group demonstrations. · Serves as a liaison supporting communication among pharmacy staff, other clinicians, vendors, and other IT staff to identify and track installation issues, troubleshoot and resolve problems, and address concerns. · Troubleshoot malfunctioning systems and identify issues causing systems to malfunction. · Deploy updates and fixes to identified issues to systems as appropriate. · Reviews application documentation to assess scope and impact of requested changes. Additionally, discusses with impacted parties the scope of the required or requested changes. · Provides day-to-day application support. Compliance and Quality · Maintains up-to-date knowledge of current trends and issues in healthcare, pharmacy practice, healthcare informatics, advances in automation, national and statewide regulations, enterprise policies and procedures as related to clinical practice and legal implications of medication-use systems. · Guides the development and implementation of policies and procedures as related to automation within pharmacy. · Collects and analyzes user feedback and identifies revisions and enhancements. Human Resources Management · Mentor staff, residents, and student employees in area of expertise. · Maintains an area of functionality expertise and ownership, while also being able to speak at a high level across workflows involving areas of ownership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and related application development/support experience
Iowa Board of Pharmacy registration is required prior to commencement of employment
Successful completion of the pharmacy technician certification exam within twelve months of the start of employment
Typically, at least 3 years of experience in a complex health care environment such as a large academic medical center or teaching hospital
Minimum 1-3 years of recent pharmacy technician experience (within last 5 years)
Experience initiating a project or change in a healthcare environment
Successful service in a formal or informal leadership role, either professionally or personally
Excellent communication skills at the verbal, written, and presentation level
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite of products
Experience working independently with a strong focus on customer service
Professional experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives
Valid Driver's license required and ability to meet UI Fleet safety standards

Nice To Haves

Pharmacy technician experience at University of Iowa Health Care is desirable
Experience authoring training materials or leading training sessions in a variety of formats
Experience using or supporting pharmacy automation
Experience working with medication and/or health care related data
Experience translating customer requirements into system design specifications

Responsibilities

workflow analysis
optimization
application build
testing and implementation of automaton systems related to pharmacy workflow
working with Project Management groups, key stakeholders, vendors, contactors, and end users regularly
responsible for automated medication-use systems, including automated dispensing cabinets, centralized automation, automated prescription fill systems, and medication preparation and administration technology, as well as other related projects within pharmacy
monitoring of production issues to allow for optimization
testing special updates and system documentation
Serves as a liaison among leaders, end-users, and IT project managers
Works with pharmacy areas to identify and prioritize areas of greatest need through collaboration with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and management staff
Works closely with nursing, lab, and HCIS staff to determine needs and assist with prioritization
Serves as the primary contact for the support of ongoing pharmacy-related system needs
Organizes and manages customer-driven service in an efficient, timely manner
Translates clinical and technical requirements into system design and workflow customization, data collection, and database builds
Guides content build working in collaboration with other staff in the creation and customization of system parameters
Develops sample input data, and tests system changes for usability, performance and adherence to standards
Obtains and maintains Epic certification
Obtains vendor related training for use of automation related to maintenance and set up of automation
Provides education to a variety of audiences through project collaboration, one-on-one sessions, and small group demonstrations to allow for understanding of changes
Contributes to application go-live support efforts by providing either one-on-one or small group demonstrations
Serves as a liaison supporting communication among pharmacy staff, other clinicians, vendors, and other IT staff to identify and track installation issues, troubleshoot and resolve problems, and address concerns
Troubleshoot malfunctioning systems and identify issues causing systems to malfunction
Deploy updates and fixes to identified issues to systems as appropriate
Reviews application documentation to assess scope and impact of requested changes
Provides day-to-day application support
Maintains up-to-date knowledge of current trends and issues in healthcare, pharmacy practice, healthcare informatics, advances in automation, national and statewide regulations, enterprise policies and procedures as related to clinical practice and legal implications of medication-use systems
Guides the development and implementation of policies and procedures as related to automation within pharmacy
Collects and analyzes user feedback and identifies revisions and enhancements
Mentor staff, residents, and student employees in area of expertise
Maintains an area of functionality expertise and ownership, while also being able to speak at a high level across workflows involving areas of ownership