Job Summary:
In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Within the context of the Provincial Digital Health and Information Services (PDHIS) lower mainland consolidated area that provides services to Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care, and Provincial Health Services Authority and other lower mainland consolidated services (VPPL), the Systems Analyst, Clinical Solutions reports to the Manager or designate in this professional level job works with independence within a multi-site health care environment. The Systems Analyst develops and maintains complex new and existing clinical application systems which impact several functional areas throughout VPPL utilizing working knowledge of SQL, clinical information systems, electronic medical record (EMR) applications and MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, and Project). The Systems Analyst provides technical direction advice to help translate business needs into requirement technical specifications and provides systems support including technical and application troubleshooting, coordination of upgrades and enhancements, and the creation and maintenance of application documentation, including service level agreements and backup and disaster recovery plans. The Systems Analyst carries out analysis and documentation of business requirements for clinical applications, the evaluation of software features and functions, and the implementation, testing, deployment, documentation and support of application systems. Provides application support of all aspects of system development life cycle from planning, analysis, design, implementation and maintenance of a clinical system.
The Systems Analyst requires considerable knowledge of the computing environment and is expected to remain current with PDHIS procedures and policy changes.
Duties/Accountabilities:
1. Conducts feasibility studies for clinical applications through methods such as determining user and/or department requirements, performing feasibility/impact analysis and completing current and future state analysis, examining and identifying problems with existing systems and recommending modifications to and/or new systems.
2. Develops specifications for complex clinical application systems by performing duties such as gathering detailed information from user departments and translating them into technical system requirements; analyzing requirements; developing and documenting system functionality/standard system operating procedures, designing forms, preparing flow charts, detailing hardware and software specifications, and preparing briefing notes and detailed implementation plans. Utilizes formal data gathering techniques and analysis tools such as, business process flowcharts, data flow diagrams, project and steering dashboards, roles and responsibility matrix (RACI), and work effort estimates.
3. Implements system changes and break fixes following PDHIS change control processes and incident management processes. Performs maintenance activities on various clinical applications according to departmental standards by methods such as executing standard system operating procedures and making system changes based on the specifications developed.
4. Develops specifications/build system activities, and performs modification and enhancement tasks according to departmental standards and using tools such as Visual Studio, Powerhouse, Oracle Developer, PowerBuilder, and Crystal Reports and other query tools as well as MS office applications (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, and Project), Crystal Reports, SQL and Service Desk Tools such as Service Now. Participates in implementation and go live/activation support on site.
5. Measures and documents system performance metrics, measures and projects transaction volumes and response times, and liaises with vendors and users in order to assist with the with analysis of system performance and the development of capacity plans for assigned clinical applications.
6. Supports system upgrades and implementations by performing tasks such as preparing all domains; implementing changes to all environments following the change control process; performing all components of testing (e.g. unit, functional, regression, user acceptance testing); performing other system tasks such as data conversion and extraction routines; logging and remediating issues; evaluating error reports; documentation of final results; and go live planning and support.
7. Assembles, creates and maintains information systems technical and operational documentation according to departmental standards and using tools such as the Microsoft Office Suite.
8. Assists with the preparation of Requests for Information/Proposal, and the development of evaluation processes and tools, and evaluation of vendor responses by performing tasks such as participating in various working groups, gathering and documenting detailed application requirements, coordinating and documenting project team and vendor communications, preparing evaluation tools, and organizing and documenting product evaluation results. Provides input into disaster preparedness plans by participating in the development and maintenance of clinical application downtime procedures and downtime/disaster exercises.
9. Provides system support to users by performing tasks such as troubleshooting system software problems, testing alternative solution, reviewing impact of implemented resolutions over time, and by developing a comprehensive understanding of the clinical application needs and business processes, and recommending optimum use of application software.
10. Attends meetings to provide input on operational requirements of the area, meeting with senior staff/leaders to determine priorities and needs; supporting clients in identifying technical/system deficiencies, providing options and presenting to decision makers, negotiating with client departments and other project teams, and providing user training as required. Documents service level agreements between PDHIS and the clients for clinical applications.
11. Provides training related to clinical application systems to other PDHIS staff for first level and technical support by performing tasks such as developing training materials, conducting training sessions, and developing and maintaining reference materials.
12. Maintains a good working relationship with the application/technical vendor. Liaises with vendors or third party services personnel to troubleshoot and remediate issues, collaborates with vendors on patches and releases and creates detailed Service Requests documents. Reviews support calls related to clinical application systems, and suggests strategies to reduce support calls.
13. Attends team meetings, participates in team discussions and projects, and actively participates in continuous quality and process improvement activities by reviewing job workflow, reporting system issues and errors, and providing input/feedback to the Manager/Team Lead such as identifying roadblocks and inefficiencies, and proposing possible solutions.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Education, Training and Experience
• Graduation from a recognized degree or diploma program in Computer Science, three years' recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Skills and Abilities
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
** Please note: Support for nomination with the BC Provincial Nominee Program is not a guarantee, entitlement, nor an employee benefit after receiving a full time job offer with PHSA **
