Job DescriptionThe Dental Informatics Specialist leads the development and optimization of the dental informatics program, advancing clinical, academic, and research initiatives through Epic EMR innovation. Reporting to the Director of Clinical Information Systems and Informatics, this role drives workflow optimization, digital technology integration, and data-driven decision-making to enhance provider efficiency and patient outcomes. The Specialist partners with the dental leadership, and IT teams to lead Epic dental module optimization, workflow redesign, and analytics initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and compliance standards. This position plays a key role in expanding enterprise collaboration, leveraging business intelligence and predictive tools to improve care quality, operational performance, and academic excellence.
Responsibilities- Serves as the strategic liaison for dental health IT efforts, representing dental and patient care team needs within Epic EMR.
- Develops the dental informatics strategy related to Epic EMR procurement, implementation, optimization, and maintenance to enhance clinical and operational outcomes.
- Combines knowledge of dental workflows, informatics principles, and change management to address the information and knowledge needs of providers, residents, and staff, ensuring safe, effective, and efficient use of Epic.
- Collaborates with dental, clinical, medical informatics, and operational leaders to develop and communicate system strategies that align with institutional goals.
- Acts as a change agent in the identification, design, implementation, and evaluation of Epic-related initiatives supporting high-quality patient care and documentation.
- Incorporates evidence-based dental practice and research into informatics initiatives to promote continuous improvement and innovation.
- Partners with Epic analysts and vendors to strategize, develop, and enhance workflows and functionalities that meet dental program needs.
- Works with clinical and IT leadership to evaluate and optimize technologies, templates, and workflows that impact dental providers, residents, and hygienists.
- Promotes advancement of clinical and business intelligence tools, enabling reporting and analytics to evaluate patient outcomes, provider productivity, and quality metrics.
- Collaborates across administrative, clinical, IT, financial, and compliance teams to develop and maintain integrated, efficient, and user-friendly dental information systems. Performs critical analysis of Epic dental modules and recommends system or workflow revisions to improve usability, compliance, and patient safety.
- Ensures that the Epic dental environment and technology infrastructure support the prevention of medical and documentation errors.
- Partners with IT leadership to leverage predictive and operational analytics tools that support patient engagement, access, and population health initiatives.
- Supports dental leadership in establishing policies, procedures, and governance frameworks for informatics and EMR optimization.
- Assists in the integration of devices and digital technologies (e.g., imaging systems, sensors, diagnostic tools) into the Epic ecosystem.
- Performs other duties as assigned in support of continuous improvement and innovation in dental informatics.
Qualifications- Knowledge of processes such as software development lifecycle, Agile methodologies, Lean and Six Sigma, and Design Thinking.
- Advanced Superior written and verbal communication skills with professional presence; effective listener, mentor, and collaborator.
- Advanced Ability to serve as an "innovation evangelist" and "change agent" by translating technical concepts into practical terms for dental providers and staff.
- Advanced Strong customer-service orientation with a focus on improving end-user experience and provider efficiency.
- Epic certification and Epic workflow build experience.
EDUCATION:
- Masters Degree in Informatics, Public Health or other related fields. Will accept experience in lieu of degree.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:
- Epic Certification of any kind.
This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.
