APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST
10 days ago
Mena
Job Description Application Specialist Summary of Position: The Healthcare Application Specialist serves as the primary liaison between clinical users and the IT department, responsible for the implementation, configuration, support, and optimization of clinical and administrative software applications. This role ensures that electronic health record (EHR) systems and other digital health tools align with clinical workflows, regulatory requirements, and user needs. By continuously optimizing platform capabilities and minimizing functional overlap, the Applications Specialist helps enhance operational efficiency and user experience. This position reports directly to the Strategic Support Manager. Specific Duties and Responsibilities: • Technical Support & Application Management:, • Develop and serve as subject matter expertise SME) in organizational EMR systems and supporting healthcare applications (e.g., EHR, practice management, telehealth platforms), • Is responsible for accessing and understanding all manuals and documentation for the applications, • Perform routine system maintenance and testing in collaboration with IT, • Is responsible for reading release notes and other documentation on changes to the Applications prior to updates being applied and summarize for management, • May be responsible for installing and/or upgrading the Applications on user endpoints, • Provide Tier 2 support for application issues, escalating to vendors or IT leadership when needed, • Is responsible for maintaining accounts and credentials for the support portals and/or other methods of obtaining support for the Applications used by the organization, • Opens support cases on behalf of users after internal troubleshooting does not resolve an issue., • Is responsible for using the Applications in a manner that meets best practice security standards and any regulatory requirement, • Uses an IT and application designated support ticketing system where end users submit internal support ticket, maintaining “time to first response” that meets or exceeds the current Key Performance Indicator (KPI) target response time for the IT tickets., • Actively seeks out application problems by informally interviewing users to find pain points or process inefficiencies, • Works closely with the IT staff to diagnose issues related to how the Applications interact with the underlying operating system., • Documents procedures fixes for common Application issues and makes these available to other appropriate staff, • May be responsible for running periodic reports within the Applications for various entities within the organization., • Act as a bridge between application operations and IT/technical teams, • Ensure HIPAA and regulatory compliance in all application usage, • Ensure documentation templates and data entry support UDS, HRSA, and other compliance frameworks, • Monitor and maintain data integrity through audits and validation processes, • Training and User Support, • Develops training materials in written, graphical, and/or video formats and makes the materials available to users, • Trains end users on the correct use of the Applications as defined by the organization—This training may be in-person, remote, or recorded, • Responsible for the set-up and management of all new users in EHR and supporting applications, • Manage application settings, templates, forms, and alerts based on workflows and regulatory standards, • Conduct regular access reviews and account cleanup, • Provide go-live support, follow-up training, and best-practice coaching, • Gather user feedback and collaborate with your supervisor and leadership to improve usability and satisfaction, • Meets and exceeds current KPI goals for training evaluation satisfaction, • Participate in multidisciplinary workgroups for quality improvement, patient experience, and technology governance, • Platform Optimization & Contract Liaison:, • Participate in the deployment and onboarding of new applications or modules, • Serve as internal liaison for EMR and healthcare application vendor contracts, • Review contract terms and pricing with stakeholders and appropriate management, • Coordinate with contract repository manager for accurate execution, • Monitor vendor service level agreement compliance for all managed applications and escalate issues to meet KPI goals, • Facilitate renewal processes 90 days prior to expiration, • Review and validate monthly/annual vendor billing statements, • Reconcile user counts and licensing against contracts, • Track renewal dates and coordinate timely payments (100% on-time target), • Report billing discrepancies within 5 business days to appropriate parties, • Assist with budget planning and cost projections, • Coordinate security assessments and risk evaluations, • Evaluate new and existing applications as organizational needs evolve, • Assess platform capabilities to prevent redundant functionality across systems, • Recommend consolidation or elimination of overlapping applications, • Other duties as assigned, • Safety/Infection Control Activities:, • Observes all safety/infection control policies and procedures., • Attend safety/infection control committee training as required., • Ensure an appropriate environment by keeping work areas clean and clutter free., • Work may be performed in an interior medical/clinical environment., • Moderate physical activity. Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds and standing, twisting, lifting and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day., • Corporate Compliance, • Employees are encouraged to support and cooperate with the Healthy Connections, Inc. Corporate Compliance policy (M/Policy/Operations Procedures/General Operations Procedures)., • Employees are required to report any mismanagement to the Corporate Compliance officer., • Employees are encouraged by Senior Management to follow the HCI Corporate Compliance program., • Support and help to achieve HCI’s clinical and business work plan in accordance with standards required to meet Patient Centered Medical Home recognition and other programs or objectives for HCI., • Help to implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and systems such as Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Meaningful Use (MU), and other programs or objectives for HCI., • Qualifications:, • Bachelor’s degree in Health Informatics, Information Systems, or related healthcare/IT field preferred but associate’s degree in required field is acceptable., • Minimum of 2 years of experience supporting or implementing healthcare software systems (EHR, LIS, telehealth, etc.), • Working knowledge of computer hardware, operating systems, and networks, • Working knowledge of clinical workflows in primary care, ambulatory, hospital, or behavioral health settings, • Understanding of software licensing and vendor agreements, • Ability to analyze and optimize platform capabilities to minimize functional overlap, • Valid state issued driver’s license, • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities, • Strong business acumen and common sense, • Reliable transportation and ability to travel to all locations and to meetings outside of the service area., • Ability to work night and weekends, if necessary., • Ability to understand, exchange, and present verbal communication and instruction., • Ability to establish and maintain effective, courteous working relationships with patients, staff team members, business entities and others., • Ability to organize, prioritize and problem-solve independently., • Experience with specific EHR platforms (e.g., NextGen, eClinicalWorks, Epic), • Clinical licensure or background (e.g., RN, LPN, MA) is a plus, not required., • Experience in FQHC, community health, or value-based care environments is a plus., • Certification in Health IT (e.g., CPHIMS, CAHIMS) or vendor-specific credentials., • Working Conditions, • Primarily office or hybrid remote setting with occasional travel to clinic sites, • May require on-call hours or weekend support during go-lives or system updates, • Status:, • This is an FLSA non-exempt position., • This is an OSHA high risk position., • Appointment to this position will be for the term of the grant supporting this position, so long as federal funds are available.