THE ORGANIZATIONS - Institute for Healthcare Improvement



POSITION DESCRIPTION: SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATECommission 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's Board of Directors established the Commission on a High Performance Health System, recognizing the need for leadership in advancing promising strategies for health system improvement. The Commission’s greatest accomplishments so far have been to highlight for the public specific areas where health system performance falls short of what is achievable, and to recommend key strategies for transforming the system. 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 and is funded through a multi-year grant from the Commonwealth Fund to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. PROJECT SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONThis 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 20131st edition of a State Scorecard on Vulnerable Populations, 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 policy, 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 senior research associate (SRA) will have primary responsibility for conducting analytic work to update the ongoing series of health system scorecard reports. S/he will be expected to manage data collection and analysis and serve as co-author of both reports and other related analyses for publication. This work will also include assisting with the scorecard report design, production, and dissemination activities, including website tools and information. In addition, the SRA will support the day-to-day management of the IHI unit and coordinate research efforts and communication between the unit, Fund staff, and external collaborators. This work will include managing data updates and analyses for the Commission’s scorecard reports, serving as co-author and key analyst to produce the scorecard reports, assisting and advising on the compilation of data/issue briefs on insurance market and provider organization data and participating in any analytic work required to produce trend and policy reports. The SRA directly reports to the Project Director of the Health System Scorecard and Research Project, also based at IHI.SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Specific responsibilities of the SRA position include the following: Participates in research and writing of the national, state, sub-state analysis of health system performance indicators and related issue briefs and articles. Serves as co-author of the Commission scorecard reports and assists the senior vice president and project team in developing additional Fund and/or journal publications that focus upon specific areas of policy related to the Commission.Assists with research design and development of health system performance data and measurement. Manages and organizes data collection from various national/state data surveillance systems, published sources, online databases, and commissioned data runs. Conducts complex data analysis using SAS/Stata, Excel, etc. and summarizes research findings into charts, graphs or tables for public presentations and publications.Serves as a key contact for the Fund’s Communications staff, graphic designer, and printer on the report design, production, and dissemination activities, including website tools and information. Supports day-to-day management and direction for developing and maintaining the Commission scorecards. Assists in coordinating activities of project team, external collaborators, and subcontractors. Provides background research including literature reviews and Internet searches. Monitors journals, working papers, financial reports, surveys, and other information related to the Commission’s work.Develops presentation slides and handouts for project team speaking engagements. May be called to attend engagement and provide meeting support.Provides administrative support to enhance communication and office operations, as necessary. This includes organizing team data and report files. 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, with record of publication and/or presentation of research for policy or public audiences. Highly 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 required, including the ability to program. Candidates must be willing to learn new computer skills as necessary and additional training can be provided.QUALIFICATIONSMaster’s degree and five to seven years of work experience or equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants with prior research experience and/or formal education in 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. ................
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