Clinical Informatics Specialist

Working title: Clinical Informatics Specialist      Position #(s):

Classification title: Informatics Nurse                   

Division: Administration

Program: Integration & Risk

Reports to:   Medical Director of Informatics   

FLSA status: Non-Exempt: Full-Time

Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Wage Range: $31.48 to $44.37 hourly; depending on number of years of transferrable experience and internal equity

RiverStone Health:

Serving the Yellowstone County community and south-central Montana for nearly 50 years, RiverStone Health is an essential provider of personal and public health services. Health, Education, Leadership and Protection – HELP is what we do.  From medical, dental and behavioral healthcare; home care and hospice; public health services like immunizations, WIC, health promotion and restaurant inspections; and educating the next generation of health professionals, our expertise spans all ages and stages of life.

Underlying principles of access, affordability, compassion and quality in all interactions, RiverStone Health improves life, health and safety for all of the communities we serve.

Job Summary:

The Clinical Informatics Specialist serves as a clinical subject-matter expert and liaison between clinical operations and health information technology. This role is responsible for ensuring clinical systems are accurate, usable, optimized, and aligned with organizational standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based practices. 

The Clinical Informatics Specialist addresses operational needs in system maintenance and education, workflow optimization, change management, and data quality oversight. Working collaboratively with clinical staff, operations, IT, quality, and external partners, this role supports safe, efficient, and compliant use of the EHR and related systems within the RiverStone Health Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) environment. 

Essential Functions/Major Duties and Responsibilities:

A.   Informatics Specialist                                                                 95%

• Lead ongoing review, optimization, and maintenance of EHR templates, order sets, documentation tools, and decision support content.

• Facilitate and coordinates EHR Super User group, organizing meetings, communications, and workflow improvement initiatives.

• Ensure alignment with evidence-based practice, quality program requirements, and organizational standards. 

• Collaborate with external partners and vendors to support interface updates and ensure data integrity. 

• Coordinate testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance of laboratory and diagnostic interfaces. 

• Maintain laboratory, diagnostic imaging, procedure, therapeutic injection, and immunization compendiums. 

• Partner with clinical, pharmacy, billing, and quality teams to support documentation accuracy, charge capture, and regulatory compliance. 

• Evaluate vendor releases and regulatory updates for clinical impact. 

• Coordinate testing and implementation of system enhancements. 

• Lead workflow and documentation optimization efforts to improve efficiency and reduce burden. 

• Identify improvement opportunities using user feedback and system metrics. 

• Support project rollouts, pilot testing, and post-implementation follow-up. 

• Maintain centralized informatics education resources and workflow guides.

• Support development and validation of metrics for new initiatives.

• Collaborate with quality and operational teams to support reporting and audit readiness.

• Shadow staff and providers as needed to identify best practices, provide assistance where appropriate, and identify opportunities for revision to EHR implementation.

• Assess clinical workflow processes, identifies gaps, escalates and coordinates process solutions to support best practice use of all information systems.

• Participate in quality improvement processes related to productivity, clinical outcomes, and other quality improvement initiatives that rely on output from the electronic health records to monitor progress.

• Support development and distribution of regular EHR tips, updates, and best practice guidance to improve system utilization among staff and providers

• Design, deliver, and maintain educational programs on EHR features and functionality for clinical and support staff, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

• Participate in relevant meetings, such as medical staff and nursing supervisor sessions, to support project objectives, collaboration, and provide education.

• Engage with the Health Information Technology team to support the achievement of team objectives and advance project initiatives.

• Support quality improvement efforts of network members, including Uniform Data System (UDS), Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Value-based Care (VBC) and other common outcome measures.

• Identify opportunities for optimization of the application through collaboration with all programs leveraging the EHR, including Fiscal Services, Public Health Services, and the Community Health Center to implement workflow improvements and customizations.

• Work with health networks, such as the Montana Primary Care Association (MPCA) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), to develop documented best practices, proactively adopt emerging enhancements, and stay informed on industry trends.

• Act as the liaison between clinical providers and staff, HIT staff, and leadership to advance organizational objectives.

• Navigate broadly defined objectives using independent judgment, critical thinking, adaptability, and creative problem-solving.

Non-Essential Functions/Other duties as assigned                                                                                          ≥5%

• Performs other duties as assigned in support of RiverStone Health’s mission and goals.

Education and Experience: 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Health Informatics, Clinical Sciences, Nursing, Public Health, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in clinical systems support, informatics, EHR optimization, or clinical workflow improvement.

• Minimum of two (2) years using electronic health record system; preferably eClinicalWorks.

• Strong understanding of ambulatory clinical workflows, preferably in primary care or community health settings.

• Experience with EHR configuration, templates, order sets, charge capture, and clinical data structures.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with clinicians to design and optimize workflows.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Medical Certification or Licensure (MA, LPN, RN, etc.) preferred

• Experience in an FQHC or safety-net healthcare setting.

• Experience with laboratory interfaces, compendium maintenance, or clinical content governance.

• Formal training in Lean, project management, or quality improvement methodologies.

• Experience developing and delivering training and change management initiatives.

• Familiarity with quality reporting programs (e.g., UDS, HEDIS, PCMH, CMS quality measures).

Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Montana driver’s license

• EHR Certified Trainer certification must be obtained within 12 months of hire

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to deal with several tasks simultaneously with speed and accuracy under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.

• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports from a variety of databases.

• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.

• Thorough knowledge of clinical workflows.

• Obtain and maintain current knowledge of EHR and related applications.

Customer Service Excellence: 

• Doing things right the first time

• Making people feel welcome

• Showing respect for each customer

• Anticipating customer needs and concerns

• Keeping customers informed

• Helping and going the extra mile

• Responding quickly

• Protecting privacy and confidentiality

• Demonstrating proper telephone etiquette

• Taking responsibility for handling complaints

• Being professional

• Taking ownership of your attitude toward Service Excellence

Supervision: 

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Create and maintain a safe/secure working environment by adhering to safety, security, and health requirements. Integrates injury, illness, and loss prevention into job activities by attending any necessary training and implementing best practices.

• Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, other vehicles, etc. Travel occurs in all weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.

Freedom to Act & Decision Making:

• This position reports to the Director of Applications and Data and is responsible for implementing program functions and services by defining criteria and standards for staff and clinicians in their use of the EHR. The Clinical Informatics Specialist is empowered to evaluate program effectiveness and recommend modifications to program content, work methods, and procedures. These recommendations may involve resource allocation and carry organization-wide policy implications.

Communications & Networking:

• Actively engages staff and providers in assessing knowledge and use of clinical systems. Frequent interaction with nursing and medical staff, as well as other EHR users. Serves as the primary liaison between clinic staff and support teams and collaborates with vendors to address documentation requirements.

Budget & Resource Management: 

• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.