eCR Specialist III (Statistical Research Specialist 3)

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a motivated individual to serve as eCR Specialist. The eCR Specialist analyzes data received via electronic case reporting (eCR) and other sources in order to evaluate data quality and find issues and reporting exceptions. Interprets findings to identify facilities not in compliance with reporting standards, communicates issues to facilities and works with them to resolve problems. Provides education on electronic case reporting within and outside of the department and works with program staff to to maintain reporting specifications for reportable conditions.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position) 
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.

Essential Functions

• Independently analyzes incoming disease report data such as ELR or eCR extracts and reviews report data, and develops data dashboards to conduct quality assurance and to identify reporting exceptions (e.g. issues with message content or structure, comparisons between original messages and what appears in surveillance systems, etc.).
• Identifies and implements procedures, systems, and tools to use in quality assurance procedures used for reviews of disease data using interim and more permanent tools and solutions.
• Conducts data analyses to identify healthcare providers and organizations not reporting in compliance with standards (e.g., LOINC codes, SNOMED codes, the inclusion of demographic information), and work with the AIMS team and healthcare providers to gain compliance.
• Develops data quality assessment tools, protocols, and resources and train other team members on how to utilize these tools.
• Serves as working supervisor.
• Documents and communicates identified issues succinctly and in a timely fashion, escalating issues affecting test and/or case counts.
• Produces data visualizations and written and oral reports based on data from potentially separate data resources such as the eICR Repository, I-NEDSS, HTML, and flat files of eICR and ePR data.
• Establishes and maintains reliable, efficient, and effective methods for communicating with involved partners via telephone and email.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with courses in statistics, computer science, mathematics, economics and related fields.
• Requires two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the development and application of research designs and statistical methods and techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years experience working in communicable disease surveillance or response in a public health organization.
• Two (2) years experience using public health surveillance systems and making system and program updates.
• Two (2) years experience working with communicable disease data including data analysis and reporting and creating data visualizations.
• Possession of a master’s degree or higher in public health, medicine, epidemiology, health informatics or a related field.
• One (1) year of experience developing new programs, designing workflows, researching new initiatives, implementing change, and training stakeholders on new strategies.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.