Careers

Senior Specialist, Digital Health Standards

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value. How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity, humility and care.

What Ontario Health offers:

Achieving your career goals is a priority to us. Benefits of working at Ontario Health may include the following based on employment type:

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day
• Health care spending account
• Premium defined benefit pension plan
• 3 personal days and 2 float days annually
• Individual contributors start at 3 weeks’ vacation with 4 weeks at 2 yrs.
• Career development opportunities
• A collaborative values-based team culture
• A wellness programs
• A hybrid working model
• Participation in Communities of Inclusion 

Want to make a difference in your career?  Consider this opportunity.

As part of Digital Health Standards (DHS), the Senior Specialist role will provide data standards subject matter expertise focused on data exchange, data content and terminology standards for various Ontario Health (OH) projects and products aligned with the specific expertise required. Along with providing standards support, this role will engage and work closely with Digital Health Standards team members, other OH teams, external organizations, and standards bodies as required to address representation of data in digital health solutions and advance interoperability for Ontarians.

Here is what you will be doing:

• Serve as a Senior Digital Health Standards representative, standards subject matter expert and advocate for various internal and external projects.
• Provide subject matter expertise, and mentorship to Digital Health Standards Specialists and Ontario Health colleagues as appropriate through a strong understanding of the digital health standards landscapes in Ontario, Canada and internationally, specifically focused on the selection, development, implementation and support of digital health standards, tooling and related artefacts.
• Track the status of projects you are assigned and ensure deliverables are completed within the timelines identified with minimal oversight.
• Utilize critical thinking and analysis skills to identify, manage and/or resolve technical risks/issues that impede the achievement of project objectives and the adoption of digital health standards as appropriate.
• Provide status updates (written and/or verbal) for projects assigned, produce gap/fit analysis and impact assessment to DHS leadership to help inform decision making on standards selection, and ensure any risks (e.g., to project timelines or  that will impact decisions related to interoperability) are brought forward to the DHS team in a timely manner.
•  Independently lead multi-disciplinary stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering, environmental scans, assessments, critical appraisals, and gap analyses to support the adoption, adaptation, or development of digital health standards for digital health solutions.
•  As a subject matter expert, ensure standards related technical and business decisions adequately conform to digital health standards for Ontario from a structural, semantic and functional perspective.
• Initiates and coordinates the design, development, delivery and maintenance of education and learning materials to support effective implementation, use and maintenance of standards.
• Provide expert consultation to the Digital Health Standards team, as well as to internal and external stakeholders, regarding standards implementation, use and maintenance, including changes to requirements, specifications, and tools.
• Fosters a collaborative and participatory environment within DHS, business, clinical and technical analysts/specialists in a proactive manner to advocate and support the appropriate use, application, and adoption of standards.
• Utilize subject matter expertise, critical thinking and analysis skills to develop and define data content for digital health standards-based solutions (e.g., eForms, eOrdering, etc.).
• Initiate, develop and document processes and procedures to support the effective use and management of digital health standards for Ontario.
• As a subject matter expert, advance, advocate, and influence the use of digital health standards in Ontario for direct care and health system use purposes, in alignment with Ontario Health’s strategic direction, Ontario’s Digital Health Blueprint, other applicable health informatics guidance, and Ontario’s Digital Health Information Exchange (DHIEX) regulation.
• Influence and advocate for the establishment of digital health standards-based solutions that are capable of being integrated into a comprehensive, standardized, and interoperable electronic health record for Ontario.
•  As a subject matter expert, participate in external community groups, workgroups committees and advisory groups to contribute to and influence the development, implementation and maintenance of standards (as required).
• As a subject matter expert, guide the implementation of clinical data standardization and harmonization for the Provincial EHR and related digital health assets, including assessment of data exchange, data representation, and health terminologies practices, systems and implementation in complex health care systems.
• Independently monitor and evaluate standards development work to inform best practices.  Monitor trends and decisions by Standards Development Organizations (SDO’s) for impact to Digital Health Standards on the Ontario Health roadmap.
• Develop, review and maintain documentation and other related artifacts that provides knowledge and guidance on the development, use and oversight of Digital Health Standards, ensuring that these are consistent with current artifacts, policies and strategies.
• Initiate and lead meetings with stakeholders internal and external to Ontario Health to advocate, support and influence digital health standards activities and compliance for interoperability.
• Other activities to be defined at the discretion of the Digital Health Standards leadership in consultation with projects, departments, and stakeholders.

Technical Requirements

• Knowledge of HL7 methodology, engagement processes, and the application of HL7 messaging standards (HL7 versions 2, version 3 and FHIR), the Reference Information Model (RIM), HL7  CDA, and related implementation guides from multiple standards development organizations.
• Knowledge of standards development and management tooling such as (but not limited to) the following: Application Programming Interface (APIs), FHIR servers such as HAPI FHIR, conformance tooling such as AEGIS Touchstone, Forms builders, and terminology browsing, authoring, and mapping tools (e.g., Snow Owl, FHIR terminology tools such as LOINC FHIR, SNOMED CT Snowstorm, Smile CDR, CSIRO Ontoserver/Shrimp/Snapper) (3+ years experience).
• Experience implementing (but not limited to) the following standards: HL7 FHIR, v2.x, v3 and/or IHE-based interfaces and familiarity with clinical terminology systems (e.g. SNOMED CT, LOINC/pCLOCD, ICD-10-CA/CCI,  knowledge of ICD-11) and relevant specification development tooling (e.g. Forge, Simplifier, HL7 FHIR validator, XMLSpy) and terminology management tooling ( e.g. Terminology Gateway, Infoway InfoRMS, terminology browsers (SNOMED CT and searchLOINC), Apelon DTS, TermWorks/TermManager ) ( 5+ years experience).
• Experience with health informatics/health information terminology standards use and management, such as subset development, subset and extension management, and use with clinical decision support/knowledge tools, reference terminologies, interface terminologies, clinical classifications, and terminology maps.
• Experience with data standards development/maintenance organizations, such as SNOMED International, Regenstrief Institute, HL7 Working Groups, Canada Health Infoway’s InfoCentral Standards, Solutions and Communities.
• Strong Health IT systems knowledge, broad understanding of clinical concepts and processes within provincial healthcare systems, and health IT project implementation or clinical systems support experience within a provincial or regional health information exchange and/or vendor system (5+ years experience).
• Experience supporting one of primary care, acute, community, mental health and/or long-term care workflow and information flows ( 5+ years experience). Clinical background and/or IT/IM project management experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience with performing assessments and providing recommendations in the selection of content and data exchange standards within the context of all other interfaces planned and implemented to support advanced interoperability.
• Excellent writing, presentation, communication, and collaboration skills to provide specialized information to a wide range of stakeholders/audiences (e.g., business, technical, clinical, etc.).
• Exceptional computer skills including ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook, and Teams) as well as experience with SharePoint.
• Detail oriented and excellent time management skills with demonstrated ability to execute with minimal supervision required (e.g., able to manage multiple priorities, meet overlapping deadlines, and identify risks to meeting priorities where appropriate).
• Experience defining governance, principles, policies and procedures and guiding business and/or IT/IM transformation initiatives.
• Professional memberships/certifications/advanced training in Health Information Management, Health Informatics, and/or Digital Health Standards (e.g., CPHIMS-CA, CHIMA/CCHIM, CTSS, HL7 FHIR Certifications, clinical terminology training, etc.) or the equivalent are required.
• Knowledge and understanding of the following will be considered an asset: knowledge of Ontario’s digital health ecosystem, standards development lifecycle, the use of Ontario interoperability standards/specifications and their integration with Ontario’s provincial digital health assets, data modelling, the digital health solutions, clinical informatics standards landscape (Ontario, Canadian, and international standards), and digital health initiatives in other jurisdictions (local, regional, provincial).

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

The typical minimum level of education to perform this job competently is equivalent to completion of a university (bachelor) program in a specialized field of study and work. The work requires a sound understanding of the underlying theoretical principles and concepts associated with the subject area and an understanding of the relation of these to the responsibilities of the job. This specialized training is often recognized by a degree and/or professional designation. Directly/indirectly related work experience representing continuous learning and required for someone to perform this job competently is six to ten years. Ongoing work assignments typically have clearly defined goals, but no (or minimal) direction with respect to what action steps to follow. The incumbent’s education, training, and previous experience will help ensure that the goal of the assignment can be clearly defined and understood (even if that means just knowing what relevant questions to ask), but the required/optional approaches to achieving the goal will often remain unclear, undefined and/or untested until the work assignment is well underway.

Key Competencies

•  Self-Awareness: Proactively seeks and obtains ongoing feedback to help understand ones’ own strengths and development areas in order to work more effectively with team/department managers/clients. Understands and is aware of ones’ emotions and the impact these emotions may have on others. Reflects on feedback and lessons learned, and uses acquired knowledge in working with team members to achieve personal and professional growth.
• Delivers: Ensures the timely delivery of programs, projects, and services, effectively adapting to tight deadlines and sudden changes in priorities to accomplish objectives. Plans ahead for possibilities and contingencies, identifying opportunities and problems to ensure that best results are achieved. Recognizes and makes best use of the diverse skills, abilities, experiences of team members to achieve best outcomes.
• Integrity: Adheres to ethical standards and integrates Ontario Health values, principles and standards into practices and business transactions. Creates honest, trusting and successful working relationships with others inside and outside the organization and conducts all affairs with personal and professional integrity. Promptly addresses issues about discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment and does not allow personal assumptions, biases and/or complaints to impact any work-related decisions in the team.
• Connects: Builds trust and establishes rapport with diverse colleagues and customers by listening, understanding their needs, and following through on commitments. Works effectively with people who have different perspectives, backgrounds and abilities while encouraging constructive dialogue and being sensitive and receptive to diverse views and opinions. Builds mutually beneficial working relationships to foster a positive and inclusive culture and engages with internal and external customers and stakeholders representing a variety of interests.
• Inspires: Creates a shared vision by soliciting and valuing diverse input obtained from each team member on the vision of their work and the team. Uses a broad range of communication strategies and methods to communicate vision with enthusiasm and clarity, and to inspire confidence and generate commitment. Helps team to embrace different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds by modeling positive leadership behavior and encouraging full participation.
• Transforms: Takes initiative and sustained action to ensure the successful implementation of change by shifting strategic focus and embracing new ideas and building on past knowledge and success. Fosters a team environment where all are encouraged to think creatively and new and diverse ideas and approaches are heard, valued and considered for implementation. Seeks performance feedback and opportunities to invest time and effort to learn and expand knowledge to improve performance

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Salary Band:  6

Location: Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change)
All applicants must be a resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.
 
Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; Black and racialized; members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary; and disabled. We encourage applicants with accessibility needs to notify us if they have any accommodation needs in the application and/or interview process. 

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