Director Data Scientist/Quality

The Director Data Scientist - Quality at Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis, TN (onsite) uses advanced analytics to strengthen patient care quality and support revenue optimization through quality-based payment programs. The role analyzes clinical and administrative data to uncover improvement opportunities, forecast performance in public quality ratings, and provide actionable guidance to leadership and clinical partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate and provide analytical leadership for the Quality Documentation Workgroup using the established improvement cycle.
• Identify quality performance opportunities through comprehensive data analysis.
• Benchmark Baptist’s current performance against peer organizations and best practices.
• Validate improvement opportunities using 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 that help maintain performance improvements over time.
• Analyze complex healthcare datasets to identify quality improvement opportunities and revenue optimization strategies.
• Translate complex quality methodologies from CMS and other payers into analytical frameworks that support organizational decision-making.
• Create early warning systems that deliver actionable insights before performance deadlines.
• Design and implement statistical analyses to assess the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives.
• Research and apply innovative analytical approaches to address complex quality performance challenges.
• Develop predictive analytics models to forecast performance in public quality rating programs (CMS Stars, Leapfrog, Vizient, US News) and financial incentive programs (HVBP, HRRP, HACRP).
• Create and maintain dashboards and other visualizations that communicate quality performance metrics to stakeholders.
• Present complex findings in clear, actionable ways using storytelling techniques for relevance to diverse audiences.
• Provide data-driven insights to leadership to optimize performance in quality-based payment programs.
• Collaborate with quality, CDI, coding, and finance teams to integrate data sources and build comprehensive analytics solutions.
• Partner with IT and data governance teams to ensure data integrity, appropriate access, and use of standard platforms and tools.
• Mentor and collaborate with quality analysts to build organizational analytics capabilities, with potential to develop and supervise a team as the program demonstrates value and return on investment.
• Stay current with changes in healthcare quality measurement methodologies and payment models.
• Identify opportunities to automate analytics processes and improve data accessibility.
• Build sustainable processes for accurate documentation review and continuous improvement.
• Foster collaboration across quality, CDI, coding, and analytics teams.

Required Qualifications

• Healthcare Quality Analytics Experience: Professional experience analyzing healthcare data to identify quality improvement opportunities and revenue optimization strategies (minimum required: 5 years; preferred/desired: 7 years).
• Data Analysis Experience: Experience with descriptive statistical methods and data exploration techniques (minimum required: 7 years; preferred/desired: 8 years).
• Data Visualization Experience: Experience creating dashboards and visualizations that communicate quality performance metrics (minimum required: 3 years; preferred/desired: 5 years).
• Data Science Experience: Experience developing and implementing predictive analytics models using deterministic and stochastic/probabilistic methods, statistical analyses, and forecasting methodologies (minimum required: 3 years; preferred/desired: years as written).
• Collaborative Experience: Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams (minimum required: 3 years; preferred/desired: 5 years).
• Leadership Experience: Experience mentoring other analysts and collaborating on improvement initiatives (minimum required: 1 year; preferred/desired: 3 years).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with SQL and proficiency with at least one programming language (e.g., R, Python) OR an analytical platform (e.g., SAS), including ability to work with large complex datasets and develop SQL queries.
• Healthcare Domain Training: Training in healthcare delivery systems, quality measures, and methodologies (minimum required: Intermediate Level; preferred/desired: Advanced Training).
• Statistical Methods Training: Training in statistical analysis, predictive analytics, modeling, and performance evaluation methodologies (minimum required: Intermediate Level; preferred/desired: Advanced Level).
• Process Improvement Training: Data-driven improvement processes and methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives (minimum required: Basic Understanding; preferred/desired: Formal Certification such as Lean or Six Sigma).
• Healthcare Knowledge: Understanding of healthcare terminology, clinical documentation requirements, and quality-based reimbursement structures (minimum required: Intermediate Level; preferred/desired: Comprehensive knowledge).
• Data Storytelling: Demonstrated ability to communicate complex data insights clearly and actionably (preferred/desired: Advanced skills with a proven track record).
• Critical Thinking: Ability to identify patterns and insights in complex data and develop innovative analytical solutions (preferred/desired: Advanced skills with proven examples).
• Personal and Leadership Traits: Demonstrated curiosity, adaptability, tenacity, and resilience, along with basic leadership skills (preferred/desired: proven experience building and developing teams).

Preferred Qualifications & Certifications

• Advanced Education: Master’s degree or PhD/Doctorate (preferred/desired).
• Healthcare Analytics/Systems Certifications: Epic’s Clarity & Caboodle Data Model Certifications (preferred/desired).
• Databricks Certifications: Databricks Data Analyst Associate, Data Engineer Professional, and ML Engineer Professional (preferred/desired).
• Power BI: Power BI visualization experience (desired).
• Technical Preferences: Experience with SAS, R, or Python; advanced SQL skills; experience with Epic systems (preferred/desired).

Technologies

SQL, SAS, R, Python, Power BI, Epic systems, Epic’s Clarity & Caboodle Data Model, Databricks, DRGs, ICD-10 codes, HCCs, CMS, HVBP, HRRP, HACRP, CMS Stars, Leapfrog, Vizient, US News

Role Overview

The Director Data Scientist - Quality improves patient care quality through advanced analytics while optimizing revenue through quality-based payment programs. The position identifies quality improvement opportunities by analyzing clinical care delivery and administrative data, helping Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation receive appropriate recognition for the quality of care provided to patients.

The role combines analytics expertise with healthcare domain knowledge to use process and outcome measures to predict performance in quality rating methodologies, identify improvement opportunities, and translate complex data into actionable insights. Collaboration spans quality, coding, CDI, finance, and BTS to integrate data sources, create analytics frameworks, and implement data-driven strategies aligned to performance in public quality ratings and value-based payment models.

Location & Work Setting

Memphis, TN (onsite)