Job Title: HIS Data Analyst

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is engaged in a five-year Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya (CDC-Kenya) to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Namibia to build and implement a Unique Patient ID platform (and Master Patient Index). We are recruiting an individual through our affiliated international NGO Global Programs for Research & Training (Global Programs) to serve as HIS Data Analyst. This position requires ten months commitment, with the potential for extension at the end of the period, subject to funding availability.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Software Developer in Kenya and close collaboration with the HIS Coordinator in Namibia, the Data Analyst will work with the Global Programs team in these areas:

Data Management, Analysis, and Interpretation:

• Consult and collaborate with public health professionals using statistical, data science techniques in the collection, linkage, processing, coding, classification, and analysis of administrative health data, particularly patient identifier information
• Provide technical expertise to data acquisition and management, and development of statistical modelling as needed for matching algorithms
• Assist in monitoring data quality issues related to user data products and collaborate with Information technology professionals to develop automated systems and tools to process, clean, de-duplicate, and verify data integrity.
• Ensure successful automation of running scripts and troubleshoot as needed
• Develop periodic reports on findings and recommendations on data sources to the UPID platform
• Preparing PowerPoint presentations for data reviews, and stakeholder reports
• Ensuring quality of data by conducting regular data validation checks

Patient Record Matching Processes:

• Lead the development and management of scripts for large patient data merging, matching, and deduplication using a variety of deterministic and/or probabilistic methodologies
• Examine data elements and standards with a view to improving patient matching
• Modifying and documenting algorithms to improve patient matching
• Lead the process to determine tolerance levels for weighting thresholds for patient matching, keep track of changes, and document decision rules
• Review source data to fine-tune algorithms based on the unique aspects of patient populations
• Query source data sets to verify sensitivity and specificity of patient matching processes
• Assisting the MPI project team and local partners in tracking progress to setting up a central reduplicated patient data set
• Collecting, organizing, and analyzing patient related data using a variety of software tools with a view to revising and adjusting algorithms to improve patient matching
• Support development team by participating in MPI systems testing, validating against source data systems, and providing feedback to further improve patient matching algorithms
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and train users on process to link or delink patient records.
• Work with stakeholders to reach consensus on the format of a unique patient identifier
• Generate unique patient identifier (UPID) for national level de-duplicated patient data

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Management

• Monitor data flow into the MPI and quality of source data
• Investigate anomalies and quality alerts
• Resolve issues or escalate when required
• Validate matching is working as expected

Minimum Requirements

• A minimum of four years’ working experience in data management or analysis with large datasets;
• Must possess excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills;
• Exceptional quantitative analysis abilities and experience;
• A critical thinker with strong problem solving and decision-making skills with strong statistical knowledge;
• Ability to interact professionally, maintain relationships with key stakeholders and provide clear technical goals;
• Must exhibit a high degree of professional excellence characterized by sound judgment, initiative, a high standard of ethics and willingness to travel as and when required;
• Must be IT savvy, willingness to learn a new system is strongly desired;
• Knowledge of analytical software, especially R (and potentially others such as SPSS, STATA, SAS) and/or data matching platforms.
• Advanced SQL skills for data management
• Familiarity with deterministic and probabilistic matching methodologies strongly preferred
• Fluency in English is required.

Other Desired Skills:

• In-depth, comprehensive, and evolving knowledge of statistical and mathematical analysis techniques integrated with computer applications.
• Management of large survey and/or research studies data sets.
• Ability to prioritize, work tight under deadlines, work with minimal supervision and multitask.
• Ability to effectively communicate data management related matters to colleagues and external stakeholders.