At Houston Methodist the Systems Architect is responsible for preserving architecture and system integrity for mission critical applications. This position collaborates with the Information Technology Directors and Operational Leaders to coordinate application design and activities to comply with the overall system architecture plan & the Information Technology division's strategy. The Systems Architect position is responsible for the creation and management of complex workflows, test scenarios, the installation process, reviewing and roadmapping assigned applications/upgrades, and ensuring timely and expert conversion/ maintenance of systems as it aligns with organizational goals. This position is responsible for software prototypes for new features and functions, the creation of technical documents and manuals for reference for best practices and design standardization. The Systems Architect position leads initiatives with upgrade installation processes and ensures timely system maintenance. This position drives and mentors team(s) to ensure complexities of the application(s) and workflows are understood and coordinated throughout the IT division.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides leadership for IT and Business partners through consultation, education, and planning of application system.

• Mentors and builds consensus with all levels of the team through both formal and informal methods concerning the application build process.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Designs, plans, and implements major system installations, updates, and upgrades including task delegation, programming, vendor consultation, testing, and deployment.

• Works directly with customers on design of optimization requests for development plans and maintenance input on application installations, upgrades, and changes.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Creates custom solutions or advanced configuration options to solve operational or workflow issues.

• Responsible for change management and quality control processes to ensure system integrity across all clinical application and technical layers of the architecture and ensures integrity of applications.

• Manages appropriate authorization of production moves and maintains documentation audit trail.

• Serves as configuration leader for multiple large-scale projects within multiple functional departments.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates and provides problem resolution, technical analyses, work plans, workflow documentation, and progress reports on assigned projects.

• Applies project management methodology standards to communicate and successfully accomplish assigned projects within budget guidelines.

• Drives innovative opportunities within the confines of budget and scope of efforts.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads requirement gathering, specifications, business processes and recommendations related to proposed solutions.

• Establishes and supports implemention of policies, processes and procedures for governance of application system-related activities (e.g., application support, development, user request management, change control, application access control, etc.) and review on an ongoing basis for effectiveness and compliance.

• Evaluates future opportunities to improve the application and forecast impacts to operational users.

• Presents opportunities of innovation and road map of application to align with IT divisional strategies.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Business Administration or related field, or clinical degree (RN, RT, PharmTech) or additional four years of experience (in addition to the minimum experience requirements listed below) in lieu of degree

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Ten years of progressive IT application system experience to include three years leading mission critical information systems with expertise in an application portfolio, OR seven years of progressive IT application system experience to include three years leading mission critical information systems with expertise in an application portfolio and three years of related business or clinical operations experience
  

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• EPIC - Certification -- For architects supporting systems with assigned certifications( i.e. Epic), at least one certification required OR
• NOCR-IT - Not a Credential - For Information Technology -- For architects supporting systems without assigned certifications, certification requirement does not apply. (i.e. PACS, MARS, VNA, etc)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrated expert understanding of enterprise system workflows

• Demonstrated large scale project management skills

• Ability to communicate with customers, product developers, and other internal stakeholders to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with and influence all levels of the organization

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

 

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.