Health Research Scientist

About the role

The Health Research Scientist is responsible for managing regional quality improvement and performance measurement projects at regional and cross-regional levels, as well as related analytics. Under the direction of the AVP of analytics and innovation, this role provides leadership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of quality and performance improvement projects and other quality-related initiatives from inception through conclusion. This role supports Connecticut HUSKY Health Medicaid behavioral health services, quality measurement and performance improvement, including major initiatives such as Rural Health Transformation, the 1115 Substance Use Waiver, the CCBHC, and the statewide Behavioral Health Homes (BHH).

Responsibilities

• Perform data analysis, review and incorporation of relevant literature, collaborative project design, associated data collection activities including extracting and manipulating data, using statistical methods to analyze data and generate useful reports depicting trends in performance measures, conducting statistical analysis, report writing, and presenting results at committee meetings.
• Responsible for understanding and assisting with updating performance measure methodology, including reporting and data requirements, and using quality improvement techniques to improve organizational and/or provider performance.
• Provide leadership, definition, and direction to assigned programs, projects, Performance Targets, and contracts.
• Prepares executive summary reports.
• Analyzes and designs solutions to address varied and highly complex business needs, through constant KPI monitoring.
• Oversees quality and performance improvement projects, measuring clinical quality outcomes using the data warehouse and HEDIS activities within the region.
• Uses QI techniques (PDSA, root cause analysis) to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develops strategic intervention activities related to HEDIS and other quality measures.
• Designs implementation and measurement plans to meet performance goals, and designs measures to assess effectiveness.
• Key partner to Clinical Management team, leading planning and development of intervention, benchmarking, and monitoring toward goals.
• Offers oversight to all performance management, leads stakeholder teams to define solutions, and drives development of action plans.
• Assesses intervention/implementation effectiveness in achieving regional quality goals, and against client contractual requirements.
• Provides regular QI and performance measurement reports to leadership.

Requirements

• MA/MS degree in a healthcare related field; 10 years of analytics, quality improvement experience; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.
• Requires associates be in the office 1-2 days per week. It is required to live in the state of Connecticut to hold this position. Candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

Preferred qualifications

• PhD preferred.
• Lean six sigma preferred.
• Ability to code in R, SAS, or other statistical program in order to evaluate effectiveness of programs and services.
• Data visualization and dashboard development (Power BI, Tableau).
• Expertise in advanced statistical analysis and data mining techniques.
• Strong capability to think critically and synthesize data and information across disparate sources.