Director-Data Scientist/Quality

Overview

Job Summary

The Director Data Scientist - Quality focuses on improving patient care quality through advanced analytics while optimizing revenue through quality-based payment programs.

This role identifies quality improvement opportunities by analyzing both clinical care delivery and administrative data to ensure Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation (Baptist) receives appropriate recognition for the high-quality care provided to patients.

This position combines deep analytical expertise with healthcare domain knowledge to use data from both process and outcome measures to predict performance in quality rating methodologies, identify improvement opportunities, and translate complex data into actionable insights for leadership and clinical teams.

The ideal candidate is a data storyteller who can extract meaningful patterns from complex healthcare data sets, develop predictive models for quality outcomes, and effectively communicate findings to drive organizational change. This role requires someone who not only understands the data but can craft compelling narratives that make complex analytics accessible and actionable for diverse stakeholders across the organization.

This position will work collaboratively across multiple departments including quality, coding, CDI, finance, and BTS to identify and integrate data sources, create analytics frameworks, and implement data-driven strategies that maximize Baptist's performance in public quality rating programs and value-based payment models.

The Director Data Scientist - Quality will be adept at using large data sets to find opportunities for clinical quality optimization, testing different courses of action, and developing algorithms to monitor performance, serving as a bridge between technical and clinical domains to help Baptist capture earned revenue by getting full credit for the quality care already being delivered.

Job Responsibilities Quality Performance Improvement Leadership

• Facilitates and provides analytical leadership for the Quality Documentation Workgroup following the established improvement cycle:

+ Identify specific quality performance opportunities through comprehensive data analysis.

+ Benchmark Baptist's current performance against peer organizations and best practices.

+ Provide data-driven validation of improvement opportunities through chart reviews and statistical analysis.

+ Support the development of targeted solutions to address identified gaps.

+ Implement proactive monitoring systems to track performance with sufficient lead time for intervention.

+ Design sustainable analytics frameworks to maintain performance improvements.

Analytics and Modeling

• Analyzes complex healthcare data sets to identify quality improvement opportunities and revenue optimization strategies.
• Translates complex methodologies from CMS and other payers into analytical frameworks that can guide organizational decision-making.
• Creates early warning systems that provide actionable insights with sufficient lead time to implement mitigation strategies before performance deadlines.
• Designs and implements statistical analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives
• Researches and implements innovative analytical approaches and methodologies to solve complex quality performance challenges, continuously seeking new ways to leverage data for organizational improvement.
• Develops and implements predictive analytics models to forecast Baptist's performance in public quality rating programs (CMS Stars, Leapfrog, Vizient, US News) and financial incentive programs (HVBP, HRRP, HACRP).
• Researches and implements innovative analytical approaches and methodologies to solve complex quality performance challenges, continuously seeking new ways to leverage data for organizational improvement.

Data Visualization and Communication

• Creates and maintains dashboards and other visualizations that clearly communicate quality performance metrics to various stakeholders.
• Presents complex analytical findings to diverse audiences in a clear, actionable manner using storytelling techniques for relatability and relevance.
• Provides data-driven insights to leadership on strategies to optimize performance in quality-based payment programs.

Collaboration and Team Development

• Collaborates with quality, CDI, coding, and finance teams to integrate data sources and develop comprehensive analytics solutions.
• Partners with IT and data governance teams to ensure data integrity, appropriate data access, and utilize available, standard platforms and tools.
• Mentors and collaborates with quality analysts to build organizational analytics capabilities, with potential opportunity to develop and supervise a team of analysts with complementary skills as the program demonstrates value and return on investment to the organization.
• Stays current with changes in healthcare quality measurement methodologies and payment models.

Process Improvement

• Identifies opportunities to automate analytics processes and improve data accessibility.
• Builds sustainable processes for accurate documentation review and improvement.
• Fosters collaboration between quality, CDI, coding, and analytics teams.

Specifications

Experience

Description Minimum Required Preferred/Desired

Healthcare Quality Analytics Experience: Professional experience analyzing healthcare data to identify quality improvement opportunities and revenue optimization strategies. Experience working with quality metrics, public reporting programs (CMS Stars, Leapfrog, Vizient, US News), and value-based payment programs (HVBP, HRRP, HACRP). 5 years 7 years

Data Analysis Experience: Experience with descriptive statistical methods and data exploration techniques. Expertise in analyzing complex data sets, identifying patterns and trends, and extracting actionable insights. Demonstrated ability to integrate multiple data sources and develop comprehensive analytics solutions that combine clinical and financial data elements.

7 years 8 years

Collaborative Experience: Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., quality, CDI, coding, finance, IT). Experience presenting to and working with healthcare leadership teams on strategic initiatives. 3 years 5 years

Data Visualization Experience: Experience creating dashboards and other visualizations that clearly communicate quality performance metrics to various stakeholders. Power BI visualization experience desired. 3 years 5 years

Data Science Experience: Experience developing and implementing predictive analytics models using both deterministic and stochastic/probabilistic methods, statistical analyses, and forecasting methodologies to anticipate performance outcomes with sufficient lead time for intervention.

Demonstrated ability to translate complex healthcare quality methodologies into practical analytical frameworks that can guide organizational decision-making and improvement strategies. 3 years years

Leadership Experience: Experience mentoring other analysts and collaborating on improvement initiatives. Experience building and supervising analytics teams as well as leading improvement initiatives preferred. 1 year 3 years

Education

Description Minimum Required Preferred/Desired

Degree in data science, analytics, statistics, public health, business analytics, engineering or related field demonstrating strong analytical foundation and quantitative skills. Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree or PhD/Doctorate preferred

Certifications in healthcare analytics, quality improvement, or Epic systems demonstrating specialized knowledge in healthcare data analysis. None Epic’s Clarity & Caboodle Data Model Certifications

Certifications in the Databricks platform demonstrating the ability to source data, assess and improve data quality, combine/integrate data, analyze data, and implement data science models None Databricks’ Data Analyst Associate, Data Engineer Professional, and ML Engineer Professional

Training

Description Minimum Required Preferred/Desired

Healthcare Training: Training in healthcare delivery systems, quality measures, and methodologies. Understanding of healthcare terminology, clinical documentation requirements, and quality-based reimbursement structures. Intermediate Level Advanced Training

Statistical Methods: Training in statistical analysis, predictive analytics, modeling, and performance evaluation methodologies. Intermediate Level Advanced Level

Process Improvement: Training in data-driven improvement processes and methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives. Basic Understanding Formal Certification (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)

Special Skills

Description Minimum Required Preferred/Desired

Technical Skills: Proficiency with data analysis platforms, ability to work with large complex datasets, experience with programming languages, and SQL query development. Experience with healthcare information systems. Demonstrated ability to use programming languages (SAS, R, Python) to manipulate datasets, conduct what-if scenarios, and implement predictive models based on quality program methodologies.

Proficiency with SQL and proficiency with at least one programming language (e.g., R, python) OR analytical platform (e.g., SAS) Experience with SAS, R, or Python; Advanced SQL skills; Experience with Epic systems

Healthcare Knowledge: Understanding of healthcare quality measures, terminology (including DRGs, ICD-10 codes, HCCs), clinical documentation requirements, and public reporting methodologies. Intermediate Level Comprehensive knowledge

Data Storytelling: Ability to communicate complex data insights to diverse audiences in a clear, compelling, and actionable manner. Experience developing executive-level presentations and strategic recommendations based on data analysis. Demonstrated ability Advanced skills with proven track record

Critical Thinking: Ability to identify patterns and insights in complex data, approach problems from multiple perspectives, and develop innovative analytical solutions. Demonstrated ability Advanced skills with proven examples

Personal Characteristics: Curiosity, adaptability to new information and methodologies, tenacity, and resilience when working through complex analytical challenges. Demonstrated traits Proven track record of applying these traits to drive organizational change

Leadership Skills: Ability to organize and manage work, plan ahead to meet deadlines for multiple streams of work, collaborate on or lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor others, and potentially build and supervise a team of analysts as the program grows. Basic leadership skills Proven experience building and developing teams

Licensure

Description Minimum Required Preferred/Desired

N/A