POSITION DESCRIPTION: RESEARCH ASSISTANT



POSITION DESCRIPTION: RESEARCH ASSISTANTCommission on a High Performance Health System Scorecard and Research ProjectInstitute for Healthcare Improvement THE ORGANIZATIONSThe Institute for Healthcare Improvement () is an independent not-for-profit organization that works with health care providers and leaders throughout the world to achieve safe and effective health care. IHI focuses on motivating and building the will for change, identifying and testing new models of care in partnership with both patients and health care professionals, and ensuring the broadest possible adoption of best practices and effective innovations. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, IHI mobilizes teams, organizations, and increasingly nations, through its staff of more than 100 people and partnerships with hundreds of faculty around the world.IHI’s vision is to be a premier integrative force, an agent for profound change, dedicated to improving health care for all. Our measures of success include improved safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. This work relies on the retrieval and use of information and scientific knowledge from health care and other industries.The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries. The Fund has an endowment of $600 million, and an annual budget of $30 million, approximately 60 percent?of which is spent extramurally in grants and 40 percent intramurally in developing programs, conducting research, and communicating results to influential audiences. The scorecard and health care market analysis project is funded through a multi-year grant from the Commonwealth Fund to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.PROJECT SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONThe Fund's Board of Directors established the Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System in July 2005, recognizing the need for leadership in advancing promising strategies for health system improvement. This research unit supports the work of the Commission, measuring and monitoring trends across key performance indicators, including: health insurance coverage and access to care; quality of care; efficiency and cost of services delivered; equity in the provision of care; and healthy outcomes. ?This position will be part of a small research team based in Boston at IHI with responsibilities for developing and producing national, state and sub-state regional analyses on health care system performance and related insurance and care system market structure analyses. Specifically, over the next two years, the team will be responsible for the research, data analysis, and writing to produce the following reports:Metro and market analysis of health system performance, with accompanying analyses of insurance and provider market organization (new analyses), 20123rd edition of State Scorecard on Health System Performance, 20122nd edition of State Scorecard on Child Health System Performance, 2012 or 2013Issue briefs and possible journal articles on geographic variation and performance topics.Reports tracking changes in health care access, outcomes and costs over time.Additionally, the team will work with senior Fund and case study staff to support qualitative analyses and participate on teams to analyze Fund-supported international and U.S. surveysThe work of the project team is overseen by the Commonwealth Fund’s senior vice president for research and evaluation in her role as research director for the Commission on a High Performance Health System. The team collaborates with other IHI staff and project teams, sharing data and information as appropriate for related work. The scorecard and health care market research project is fully funded under a grant from the Commonwealth Fund.SUMMARY POSITION DESCRIPTIONThe research assistant (RA) is a key member of the IHI scorecard and research project team. He/she will provide research and writing support for the ongoing series of national and state scorecard reports and new health care market analyses and assist in coordinating the work of the team. During the first 12 months, the RA will be responsible for: 1) supporting the post-production of the 1st edition of the Local Scorecard, including writing issue briefs and market analysis reports using local-area data; 2) production of the 3rd edition of the State Scorecard, including preparation of tables and charts, web-based profiles of all states, and writing of report; and 3) providing data and analytic support to write issue and data briefs on other health-policy topics related to the Commission’s promotion of a high performing health system. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSpecific responsibilities of the RA position include the following: Provide research and writing assistance to the senior vice president of research and evaluation and project team. These responsibilities include compiling and analyzing data; creating report exhibits and presentations; and drafting and editing publications and written materials.Coordinate team efforts to produce scorecards and issue/data briefs. Assemble and organize data from various national/state data surveillance systems, published sources, online databases, and commissioned data runs.Conduct complex data analysis using Excel spreadsheets and statistical software (SAS and/or Stata preferred, but not necessary) and functions and prepare accompanying tables, charts, and graphs (charts and graphs are usually in PowerPoint). Draft and assist with revisions to Fund reports, issue/data briefs, professional journal articles, and Congressional testimonies; create graphics to pair with text; proofread and check for data accuracy. Develop presentation slides and handouts for senior staff speaking engagements. May be called to attend engagement and provide meeting support.Coordinate data requests, project activities, and funding with external researchers/grantees. Support grants management tasks, including preparing project summaries and schedules.Provide background research including literature reviews and Internet searches. Monitors journals, working papers, financial reports, surveys, and other information related to the Commission’s work.Provide research support to analyze Fund-supported surveys. Assist in survey development, statistical analyses (using computer statistical software), tables and chart preparation, and report writing. Assist the senior vice president in developing additional publications that focus upon specific areas of policy related to the Commission. May be called upon to serve as co-author and lead-author on Fund issue/data briefs or reports. Provide office/administrative support to enhance communication and operations to support the project team which will include the Fund’s senior vice president, the IHI project manager and senior research associate. Administrative responsibilities include: coordinate schedules and maintain calendars; set up meetings and arrange travel as necessary; draft correspondence to Commissioners, senior Fund staff and outside experts; prepare documentation for meetings and/or distribution; maintain electronic and paper filing system; and process expense reports.Support team meetings and schedule meetings with other researchers as needed. This includes reserving meeting rooms and arranging for food, beverage, and audiovisual needs at IHI and serving as key contact for meeting logistics with the Fund’s New York office. The organization’s philosophy on successful performance in the job includes the willingness on the part of all staff members to handle any assignment necessary to further the goals of the institution. This may include taking on responsibility in other program areas or departments if the need arises. Position Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Detail oriented with strong quantitative and analytic skills. Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and synthesize data from various sources and produce graphics and tabular data presentations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Organized and self-motivated. Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet demands of a fast-paced environment with changing priorities. Dedicated team player with flexibility to work with and without supervision. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of products. Experience with SAS/Stata is preferred. Candidates must be willing to learn new computer skills as necessary.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree and two or more years of related work experience. Preference will be given to applicants with a master’s degree, prior research experience and/or formal education in health policy, economics, statistics, mathematics or public policy. Demonstrated interest in health care policy or health services research a plus. The Scorecard Project Team is a relatively small team charged with research and policy supporting Commission scorecards and analyses. Judgment, integrity, and the ability to listen with sensitivity to others are traits that are particularly important in this environment. Teamwork is essential to effectiveness at both the Fund and within IHI. The project team must have the ability to work collegially with a variety of Fund and related IHI staff. Interest in and strong commitment to the Fund and IHI missions and Fund programs are key qualifications. CONTACTInterested parties should send a cover letter and resume via email to:Institute for Healthcare ImprovementVice President, Human Resources20 University Road, 7th FloorCambridge, MA 02138employment@IHI Is An Equal Opportunity EmployerIHI will provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, political belief or activity, or status as a veteran. The policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, transfer, termination, layoff, compensation benefits, social and recreational programs, and all other conditions and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. It is the policy of IHI to comply with all the relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). IHI will not discriminate against any qualified employee or job applicant with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person's physical or mental disability. IHI also will make reasonable accommodation wherever necessary for all employees or applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments connected with the job and provided that any accommodations made do not require significant difficulty or expense. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download