Program Specialist IV

About the role

The Program Specialist IV under the Texas Primary Care Office (TPCO) manager performs advanced consultative and technical work related to Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designations. This role involves collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting workforce, demographic, and healthcare data to support planning, developing, and implementing strategies to improve access to primary healthcare providers.

Responsibilities

• Collects, compiles, analyzes, and interprets healthcare workforce data to update shortage and underserved area designations submitted to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
• Works with federal and state staff on data fields, data definitions, reports, audits, and functionality for the online Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS).
• Analyzes business processes to identify opportunities and develop strategies for designation process improvement.
• Communicates with manager, staff, communities, media outlets, legislative and congressional staff, as well as federal project officer/designation analyst, director, staff, and contractors to identify, define, and analyze data, business/system requirements, define scope, develop project schedules, and resolve issues.
• Prepares and conducts presentations using Microsoft Office software, including Word and PowerPoint to inform stakeholders about Shortage Designation and measuring access to healthcare services.
• Prepares maps, charts, and tables that show areas considered for or designated as HPSAs or MUAs, and also maps, charts, and tables showing locations of health care facilities and illustrating whether barriers to access are present in the area.
• Aids the TPCO Manager in the preparation of annual performance measure data transmissions and narrative reports to HRSA.
• Prepares reports for external program staff and organizations (legislature, local governments, safety net-related organizations, community organizations, and the general public) upon request using health professional data from SDMS and other sources.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university required. Major course work in social sciences or public health preferred. Experience with data collection, including online research, data validation, and analysis is preferred. Experience creating workflow processes and process documentation, that are consistent with program eligibility rules and criteria, is required. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required. Experience working with and communicating with external stakeholders is required.

Qualifications

Knowledge of federal criteria and methodology relating to the designation of HPSAs and MUAs. Knowledge of health workforce registries and other population data sources used for measuring access to health care professionals and health care services. Knowledge of barriers to and issues surrounding access to primary care for underserved populations. Skill in collection, compilation, analysis, and interpretation of workforce or population data. Skill at interpreting complex guidelines, rules, and policies and relating information to others. Skill in making public presentations to groups and individuals with varied background, education, and interests using presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint. Skill in linking data from different sources and coordinating for addresses. Skill in using software to make pivot tables, preparing maps, charts, and tables. Ability to establish priorities and plan workflows to meet short and long term deadlines. Ability to use project management skills to assure that milestones are reached in a timely manner. Ability to use computer to enter data, track, and assess information, and prepare written communications, presentations, and data analysis. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, interpret, and analyze data. Ability to train others. Ability to plan, organize, schedule, and monitor completion of assigned projects. Ability to assess and manage priorities. Ability to use data and mapping software, electronic mail, and the Internet.

Skills

Ability to establish priorities and plan workflows to meet short and long term deadlines. Ability to use project management skills to assure that milestones are reached in a timely manner. Ability to use computer to enter data, track, and assess information, and prepare written communications, presentations, and data analysis. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, interpret, and analyze data. Ability to train others. Ability to plan, organize, schedule, and monitor completion of assigned projects. Ability to assess and manage priorities. Ability to use data and mapping software, electronic mail, and the Internet.

Benefits

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

Pay

$4,263.16 - $5,333.34 per month

Schedule

Day Shift