Research Abstract Analyst III- Central Abstractor Office

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.

Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact.

Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you'll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

Under minimal supervision, leads and coordinates clinical data abstraction and data collection activities for research, quality improvement, compliance, and regulatory initiatives. Serves as a subject matter expert in clinical data interpretation, abstraction methodologies, quality assurance, and project coordination. Functions as a liaison between Principal Investigators, Project Managers, and data collection teams while ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timely submission of clinical data. Utilizes established guidelines and professional judgment to abstract and analyze information from electronic medical records (EMR) and other clinical sources to support research studies, regulatory reporting, performance improvement programs, registries, and compliance initiatives.

Project Leadership & Coordination

• Coordinates data collection and abstraction workflows for research and quality initiatives.
• Oversees daily productivity and project timelines, monitoring progress and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Serves as the primary liaison between investigators, project leadership, and data abstraction teams.
• Assists in project planning, implementation, and monitoring, including estimating completion timelines and tracking deliverables.
• Resolves data collection issues, case ambiguities, and workflow challenges to ensure project success.

Clinical Data Abstraction & Analysis

• Independently reviews and abstracts clinical information from electronic medical records and other healthcare documentation.
• Identifies, interprets, and analyzes data from physician documentation, operative reports, pathology reports, laboratory results, radiology reports, medication records, discharge summaries, consultations, and inpatient records.
• Determines patient eligibility for research studies, registries, and compliance initiatives based on inclusion criteria, disease staging, diagnostic testing, laboratory values, and protocol requirements.
• Ensures data accuracy, consistency, and completeness according to project specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Abstracts data supporting organizational, state, national, and international research and quality programs.

Data Quality & Compliance

• Leads quality assurance efforts and coordinates data validation and auditing activities.
• Reviews submitted data for completeness and accuracy, addressing discrepancies and resolving conflicting information.
• Supports audit preparation and collaborates with investigators and stakeholders during internal and external reviews.
• Ensures compliance with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, confidentiality standards, and HIPAA guidelines.
• Monitors protocol adherence, data submission timelines, and federal regulatory compliance across multiple projects and sites.

Data Management & Reporting

• Develops, maintains, and enhances data abstraction tools, databases, and tracking systems used for systematic data collection.
• Assists in the creation of data dictionaries, abstraction guidelines, definitions, and project-specific procedures.
• Compiles project metrics, productivity reports, and data summaries for stakeholders.
• Ensures timely submission of research data, documentation, and supporting records as required by project protocols and governing agencies.
• Provides support for registry reporting, compliance reporting, and quality improvement initiatives.

Training & Education

• Develops and delivers training on data collection methodologies, abstraction standards, and project protocols.
• Serves as a resource and mentor for team members, providing guidance on data interpretation and abstraction practices.
• Supports onboarding and orientation activities for new staff.
• Participates in continuing education activities and maintains current knowledge of regulatory, research, coding, and healthcare industry standards.
• Shares best practices and promotes consistency across abstraction and data management activities.

Collaboration & Professional Support

• Participates in project meetings, webinars, conference calls, and stakeholder discussions.
• Collaborates with investigators, clinicians, quality teams, research personnel, and operational leaders.
• Provides coding validation, consultation, and educational support related to clinical documentation and data abstraction.
• Supports organizational initiatives related to quality, compliance, patient safety, and research performance.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Health Information Management, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Health, Research Administration, or a related field.
• Active credential in one of the following:
  • Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
  • Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
  • Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR)
  • Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
• Five (5) years of progressive experience in clinical research, data abstraction, health information management, quality improvement, compliance, registry management, or a related healthcare field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Clinical Research, Nursing, or a related field.
• Experience supporting research studies, clinical registries, healthcare quality initiatives, or regulatory reporting programs.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, disease processes, pharmacology, medical terminology, and healthcare coding systems.
• Experience with Electronic Medical Records (EMR), including Epic.
• Experience using REDCap and other clinical research data management platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Experience utilizing web-based healthcare, compliance, quality reporting, and research systems.