SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITY:

This position reports to the Director, Performance Improvement.  The Performance Improvement Specialist is responsible for facilitating performance improvement projects and initiatives both internally at SOHO HEALTH and within the healthcare delivery environments in our network.  This includes small practice locations, employed medical groups and hospitals.  The PI Specialist will initiate projects and facilitate development of charters, manage implementation, conduct project analysis and monitor sustainability. 

The PI Specialist’s primary function is to improve processes and outcomes to better serve the network and community – this includes identification and process redesign to eliminate waste and inefficiency, implementation of best practice and evidence-based protocols, with an emphasis on projects that best serve our patients and the goals of our Alternative Payment Model (APM) contracts. The PI Specialist will partner with SOHO leadership and colleagues, practice managers, providers and staff to develop the capacity for sustained change and improvement through support, education, data, analysis, and other as determined through project charter and development. 

The Performance Improvement Specialist also exhibits project management skills and ability to develop and adhere to timelines, which support population health alignment, SOHO Health strategic initiatives, and care coordination for covered lives.   The Performance Improvement Specialist is also responsible for consulting and working on projects with relevant practices on an ad hoc basis, training and educating staff, and presenting project updates to leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works directly with SOHO leadership and colleagues, practice managers, providers, and staff to identify and address issues related to maintaining effective and efficient workstreams and processes.

• Helps determine areas of improvement by assessing needs, gathering data, and performing analyses in order to determine priorities.  This may include not only traditional data displays and statistical process control analyses, but also the use of PI tools and methods like Root Case Analysis, Fishbone diagramming, 5 Why’s, etc. 

• Provides quality improvement coaching for participating practices, providers, staff and colleagues. Under the direction of the Director and CMO, assists with prioritization of work and provides process support to network practices related to quality incentives.

   

• Builds and maintains excellent relationships with provider organizations. Acts as subject matter expert for external resources and tools and saves practices from engaging in extensive searches for information.

• Supports and coaches practices in the collection and management of relevant project data.

• Facilitates communication with other SOHO Health staff to enhance awareness of network issues and initiatives.

• In collaboration with the Director and CMO, oversees relevant projects from conception through operational phases. Coordinates the assessment, analysis, planning, and implementation and evaluation of complex/multifaceted projects, including providing data reports and analyses to practices and other stakeholders.

• Develops and adheres to a standard project management methodology and quality standards and ensures project success at every level, including maintaining and adhering to budget parameters.

• Determines priorities and deadlines and organizes work schedule to meet them.

• Other duties as assigned.

THE DUTIES LISTED ABOVE ARE INTENDED ONLY AS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF WORK THAT MAY BE PERFORMED. THE OMISSION OF SPECIFIC STATEMENTS OF DUTIES DOES NOT EXCLUDE THEM FROM THE POSITION IF THE WORK IS SIMILAR OR A LOGICAL ASSIGNMENT TO THE POSITION.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• At a minimum, Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare or related field required (Business, Public Health or Management)

   

• Expertise in performance improvement frameworks (Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA) strongly preferred; additional experience and expertise in project management and associated software preferred.

• Healthcare experience preferred or engineering/process improvement background with experience in Healthcare

   

• Strong skills in using standard Microsoft Office suite and applications – including advanced Excel capabilities

   

• Strong presentation skills and ability to create and present in PowerPoint.

   

• Familiarity with data systems and ability to understand and display data in different ways to different stakeholders. 

   

• Experience working with Alternative Payment Models strongly preferred. Good understanding of payor requirements for quality metrics and scoring methodologies.

   

• Demonstrated effectiveness with working in teams, understands group dynamics and communication. Strong interpersonal skills, customer service skills, oral and written communication skills. Ability to build relationships and engage others in team efforts.  Flexible, agile and able to pivot quickly when priorities change.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to travel to provider offices within a broadly defined area.

• Frequently is required to walk, sit, and stand.

• Ability to transport and/or maneuver objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

• Busy work environment subject to frequent interruptions and shifting potentially conflicting priorities