Director Information Services - Applications

Ascension Health Information Services (AHIS) is seeking to hire a seasoned leader.  The Director of Information Services is the lead operational position for the AHIS team at St. Agnes Hospital.  They may be asked to represent St. Agnes Hospital in Regional AHIS Operations, and will represent the unique perspective of St. Agnes and the Baltimore, MD healthcare environment  in these venues. This position will have the operational responsibility for all IS Applications and oversee the AHIS and CSC service delivery.

Administrative:

• Participate in infrastructure, applications and technology visioning, both within St. Agnes and within the Meditech Community of Excellence (COE) within AHIS.
• Maintain the strategic technology direction for the ministry, in concert with AHIS leadership and the Ministry executive sponsor.
• In conjunction with the Market CIO and the VP of Operations and Campus Construction, update and adhere to a documented I/S Strategic Plan.
• Oversee the CSC technology outsourcing agreement, related billing and SLs.
• Respond to and support all internal and external audit activities centered on IS functions.
• Be an active member of the community, representing St. Agnes in local and regional Technology, Healthcare and/or Business organizations.
• Support the Information Services teams through a matrixed organization, including national, regional, market and local components.

Governance:

• Facilitate IS advisory committees as may be deemed necessary.
• As required, be an active contributor to other hospital committees, representing the Systems and Technology perspective, including:
  • St. Agnes Management Council
  • Physician Advisory Committee
  • Others, as may become necessary.
• Oversee and participate in effective communication around IS activities, especially on weekly and monthly CSC service reviews.

 Management: 

• Develop and administer IS capital and operational budgets in coordination with St. Agnes and AHIS Finance groups.
• Administer contracts with third parties conforming to associated St Agnes and AHIS legal processes.
• Review project initiation authorizations prior to Ministry executive sponsor approval.
• Provide regular reporting of IS activities to include project status, performance metrics, financial measures and any significant issues.
• Direct the activities of the Information Services department staff.
• Review, endorse and submit to Ministry executive sponsor departmental hardware and software requests.

Technical:

• Provide advice on application direction of locally-based systems – both existing and strategic.
• Oversee the proper planning, functioning and management of the hospital’s application systems.
• Oversee Information Services activities at St. Agnes Hospital, including on-campus and at remote locations.
• Oversee the delivery of all technology services, in conjunction with the CSC SSDM.
• Oversee I/S progress and performance against project plans.
• Develop and submit  all IS capital request for purchase.

Ascension Health is transforming healthcare by providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.  Ascension Health, which provided $926 million in care of persons who are poor and community benefit last year, is the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.  Our Mission-focused Health Ministries consist of 107,000 associates serving in more than 500 locations in 19 states and the District of Columbia. 

Ascension Health Information Services (AHIS) is a subsidiary organization of Ascension Health. With more than 1,100 associates, AHIS is one of the largest healthcare IT services companies in North America. Ascension Health created AHIS to make better use of Systemwide IT resources and to support achievement of the organization's Strategic Direction. Through AHIS, we leverage our System's size by achieving operating efficiencies through technology advancements, data center consolidation, best practice implementation and shared resources teams. AHIS was formed not only to support System growth and change but also to improve our IT capabilities, disaster recovery, security and business operations.

This position is with AHIS; available at St Agnes Healthcare, in Baltimore, MD 

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MS or MBA is desirable.

 Minimum Work Experience Required:

• 10+ Years in an  IT leadership role in the healthcare vertical market
• Experience in a multi-layered, matrixed environment (local network, regional environment or a national system) a plus
• Demonstrated large project implementation and governance experience
• Budgeting experience at a departmental and large project scale
• Experience with both Clinical and Financial decision support systems
• Demonstrated understanding of Hospital processes and operations
• Previous work experience using Meditech applications

Specific Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Clinical systems background desired
• Strong communication skills—verbal and written
• Relationship management capabilities
• Technical strategic thinking/planning and vision setting
• Results oriented management style
• Experience in a leadership role defining policies and procedures in a complex organizational environment.

Desirable Professional affliations:

• Member in good standing with CHIME and/or HIMSS
• Project Management Institute Training or PMI Certification