HEALTH SYSTEMS SPECIALIST 2 DEFINITION:
Under direction of a Health Systems Specialist 1 or other supervisory official, Health Systems Review Program, Department of Health and Senior Services, performs independent research in the design, development, and delivery of specialized health services, sophisticated medical technologies, and health care facilities; prepares health service and medical facilities= plans in specifically assigned technical areas; develops state regulations which form the basis for reviewing Certificate of Need applications; conducts technical reviews of long range hospital and other health facilities= plans; does other related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Undertakes research projects in the areas of health systems development for health care facilities/services, identifying utilization factors, costs, quality of care standards, access features, and the appropriate regional base associated with efficient placement/delivery of various specialized health services.
Identifies methods for achieving efficiencies and cost savings to NJ government and consumers in the revision of statewide development/delivery of health care.
Formulates new and revises existing methodologies for determining need for various types of health care facilities/services.
Designs proposed systems for statewide development/delivery of facility and service types.
Estimates probable costs and cost savings to NJ resulting from design/implementation of new approaches to existing and proposed service and medical technology delivery.
Prepares research reports, analytical studies, and recommendations for design/delivery of specific health services.
Performs technical analysis of demographic, utilization, cost, mortality, morbidity, and facility data.
Reviews Certificate of Need applications in the medical specialty areas to which they are assigned to ensure compliance to state health policies, procedures, and regulations.
May assist in formulating recommendations for department policy in providing specific types of health care facilities, services, and medical technologies.
Staffs Commissioner advisory committees as assigned.
Develops working relationships with regional health systems agencies and major institutional providers.
Provides technical assistance to other department units, other state departments, institutional health providers, and community and professional organizations on matters related to system/service design and medical facilities development.
Makes public presentations of research findings.
Develops proposed new state policies/regulations and amendments to existing policy/regulations.
Prepares complex/technical correspondence in the course of official duties.
Evaluates impact of new and proposed federal/state legislation and regulations, and reports findings to the Director through the Chief, Health Systems Design.
Makes recommendations concerning appropriate guidelines for development of hospital and long term care facility capital and service plans, and reviews plans submitted by major institutional providers.
Prepares substantive reviews of Certificate of Need applications to evaluate their compliance to state health policies/regulations.
Prepares monthly progress reports.
Provides technical content reviews for Certificate of Need approval/denial letters and monitors applicants= compliance to Certificate of Need conditions.
Keeps current with state/federal regulations, policies, and guidelines in the medical areas assigned.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Eight (8) years of professional experience in a government or private health organization in which primary job responsibilities included health care research, health systems design, health policy development, or health law.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
OR
Possession of a J.D., LL.B., or Master's degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Hospital or Health Services Administration, Medical Care Administration, Social Work-Policy, Sociology, City/Urban/Regional Planning, Economics, Nursing, Nursing Administration, or related fields; and three (3) years of the above indicated professional experience.
OR
A Doctorate in any of the above fields; and two (2) years of the above indicated professional experience.
NOTE:"Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of federal laws/regulations relating to design, development, reimbursement, financing, and quality of care factors governing health care facilities and specialized health care service.
Knowledge of health systems design including organization, capital and operational costs, and reimbursement policies influencing design/development of specialized health care facilities/services.
Knowledge of social/economic/cultural factors affecting distribution of illness, exposure to health risks, patterns of behavioral disorders, and problems associated with access to health services by selected populations.
Knowledge of social research design and applied social statistics including sampling methodologies, construction of social survey instruments, and application/interpretation of statistics, trend calculations, and content analysis.
Knowledge of policies/practices of major third party payers.
Knowledge of regional approaches to design, development, and provision of health services/facilities including legal, organizational, cost, social, geographic, political, and cultural factors influencing effective delivery of health services.
Knowledge of organized programs for provision of health services such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HMOs and federal categorical programs.
Knowledge of the effectiveness of various organizational models and interventions in providing health services and promoting health of populations with specific social/medical characteristics.
Knowledge of current medical technologies, their costs, applications, clinical benefits, and factors related to their efficient delivery.
Knowledge of capital finance including budgeting, financial management, and operational costs associated with investments.
Ability to interpret/apply regulatory requirements.
Ability to perform technical reviews of Certificate of Need applications for facilities, specialized health services, and medical technologies, and to interpret/apply technical standards.
Ability to research/develop recommendations concerning capital/operational costs, utilization factors, staffing complements, access features, and their regional scope in delivery of specialized medical services and technologies.
Ability to prepare recommendations in the form of proposed policy and/or proposed state regulations for review.
Ability to review, interpret, and analyze impact of new legislation/regulations on costs, access to, and delivery of health services within the state.
Ability to organize, prepare, and deliver speeches to professional and community groups, organizations, and societies.
Ability to perform complex/technical assignments independent of close supervision and to ensure that they are completed on schedule.
Ability to supervise interns in the conduct of research studies. Ability to write clear/concise reports of research findings that are technically accurate.
Ability to prepare technical analysis of specific denials under appeal and to represent the department as a technical witness in the course of administrative hearings and litigations.
Ability to prepare technical correspondence.
Ability to maintain program records and files.
Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
CODES: 27/P27 - 00282 RKR/cah 5/9/98
