EPR Applications Specialist

Unity Health Toronto is embarking on a multi-year digital, clinical transformation project to implement a new electronic patient record solution across all sites. The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) project is a pillar of enabling exemplary patient experience and quality of care and therefore see this not as an information technology initiative, but as one founded in clinical transformation and care redesign.

Job Profile:
The EPR Applications Specialist will be responsible for the overall build and implementation of the EPR modules. The role is one that bridges technology, clinical workflows and practice in the build and deployment of the relevant modules within the system for all end users across the organizations. The role requires excellent knowledge of technology and the ability to analyze and translate the clinical and non-clinical needs to a system build that optimizes patient care, ensuring that the system is relevant and usable. The role sits within the EPR governance structure and has a mandate to develop, provide and maintain the clinical system to meet the clinical and non-clinical needs to effectively and efficiently use the EPR in patient care.

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership and System Support

• Plans and manages the build and deployment of EPR applications and ensures the build with the practices and workflows are congruent;
• Provides leadership to ensure health information technology and applications support safe/effective patient care;
• Plans, builds, tests, maintains, enhances, supports and evaluates clinical applications and patient care technologies, ensuring standards and best practices are followed;
• Interprets, clarifies and responds to requests for system content or design changes, upgrades and enhancements including assessing the impact of the request on all integrated systems and on the workflow for clinicians and non-clinician end users;
• Documents and integrates clinical workflows into clinical and non-clinical applications;
• Work with vendor to support the best build within the system including development, analysis, customization and testing.

• Collaborates to assess clinical care and potential for risks/ errors in the build and roll out of clinical systems and implement strategies to prevent or minimize the risk of error;
• Collaborates to assess and recommend workflow redesign that incorporates/leverage technology to enhance or enable best practice and the achievement of optimal patient outcomes;
• Builds liaisons and manages relationships between clinicians, end users, systems/ICT or vendor professionals to achieve optimal system build and integration into clinical care.

• Interprets, clarifies and responds to requests for system content, design changes, upgrades, fix kits and enhancements, involving:
• Assessing the impact of request on all integrated systems, assessing the impact on the workflow of Clinicians; planning, overseeing, performing, evaluating and testing at all levels through this process
• Acts as a key subject matter expert for relevant clinical applications and integration with various other clinical and non-clinical systems

• Collaborates to explore options for creative problem resolution, involving assesses integration impact, making recommendations for resolution and participating in executing a resolution plan, where applicable;
• Investigates and enables resolution of problems identified by clinicians or triaged from the Help Desk and other sources and collaborates with others when additional or different expertise is needed;
• Participates in rotational on call for support of clinical systems across the network and as required performs activities during evening, night and weekend hours;
• Develops and recommends policies and procedures to promote alignment of clinical applications with professional practice standards.

• Shares subject matter expertise with other IT professionals, including students;
• Participates in research or ¿culture of discovery¿ activities involving the core aspects of clinical informatics, e.g., study of standards, terminology, usability, demonstrated value, safety and quality;
• Provides support for process and clinical workflow improvements
  • Collecting and providing analysis of ideas brought forth;
  • Developing and recommending solutions, within scope of authority, where appropriate, ensuring the timely escalation of requests, that are outside scope of authority;
  • Participating in the testing and piloting of system changes/options, while ensuring appropriate documentation;
  • Participating in the implementation and evaluation process;
  • Providing recommendations for system refinement and/or revision.

• All staff are expected to carry out their assigned duties and responsibilities in a manner which prioritizes patient and employee safety and confidentiality. Key accountabilities in this regard include:
  • Strict compliance with patient/employee confidentiality practices and policies
  • Strict compliance with patient/employee safety practices and standards.
  • Appropriate identification, reporting and response to patient/employee confidentiality breaches in accordance with established policies and procedures
  • Appropriate identification, reporting and response to patient/employee safety risks and incidents/events in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Bachelor Degree in a related field required. Masters degree in a professional faculty or Masters degree in Information Technology or Informatics preferred;
• Five years experience as a clinician and/or in clinical informatics or application support role;
• Three to five years experience with information management systems, preferred;
• Experience with using clinical systems used in patient care, including ordering, results, and database management; an asset
• Advanced knowledge of core components of an electronic health record necessary for viewing results, ordering and clinical documentation;
• Intermediate knowledge of integration/communication between core clinical systems;
• Concepts of designing that incorporate patient safety, best practice guidelines and human factors;
• Advanced knowledge of Office computer applications (e.g., MS Office, MS Project, Visio);
• Excellent organization, prioritization and time management skills;
• Excellent leadership, team, collaboration and change management skills;
• Excellent critical analysis, creative problem solving and decision making skills;
• Ability to meet deadlines and achieve deliverables;
• Excellent communication, facilitation and inter-personal skills, and a client service orientation;
• Solid project management skills and experience in applying related tools;
• Demonstrated commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Hospital, and to the principles of a culture of discovery and continuous learning;
• Ability to work flexible hours in response to project requirements.

If you would like to learn more about the EPR project, please visit:Electronic Patient Record (EPR) - Project Connect - Unity Health Toronto As a condition of employment, all external hires will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or documentation unless a valid accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code exists. Please note, if you are extended an offer of employment, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination in Ontario QR Code format. All internal candidates must be in compliance with Unity Health Toronto¿s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

#LI-MR1