Department of Clinical Research Informatics

The staff of the Department of Clinical Research Informatics (DCRI) is dedicated to the mission of the NIH Clinical Center. The DCRI staff is divided into multiple teams, which provide an array of services to support the technical architecture of the Clinical Research Information System (CRIS) and its many clinical applications. In addition, DCRI staff support users from across the NIH who depend on CRIS to conduct research and to manage patient care.

Organizational Chart

This document represents DCRI's organizational structure. For more information on the roles and responsibilities of each section, see: What We Do.

Section Descriptions

CIO Office

• Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO)
  The CMIO is the CRIS User and Clinical IT Systems advocate at the CC. The CMIO is the DCRI executive responsible for the CRIS Prescriber Group, as well as the DCRI representative for the Clinical Fellows Committee and Medical Executive Committee (MEC) IT subcommittees. The CMIO also participates in a variety of regular meetings where prescribers and IC clinical research staff meet, such as monthly QA meetings, business, as well as clinical rounds, and other standing CC Committees such as the Surgical Administrative, Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Pediatric Care Committees. Other ad hoc meetings with physician and mid-level practitioner colleagues are routine and important events for discovery of CRIS and other IT issues. In aggregate, these activities typically involve clinicians and clinical research teams (clinical research nurses, protocol coordinators, data mangers, etc.) from IC's and provide a forum for two-way discussion of clinical IT issues, especially those potentially involving business process or important IT changes.

• Clinical Informatics
  The Clinical Informatics team provides support to CRIS users throughout all phases of the system development lifecycle: Planning, Design, Build, Training, Testing, Implementation, Maintaining, Support and Evaluation. Members of this team possess clinical and process knowledge, enabling them to provide valuable data, information and insight to the Clinical Center's care providers who use the CRIS System. The CRIS Support team is responsible for addressing CRIS user issues both proactively and reactively to ensure "at the elbow" help is available when necessary. This same group provides and manages all CRIS training, both in the classroom and online. Another section of this team configures the CRIS system to enhance and customize its ordering and documentation screens, and to improve its functioning. As new protocols are developed, this team addresses changing research and departmental needs through newly configured items. Our custom developers create technical solutions to complex processes that often require the identification of a new process and the implementation of a technical process to import and organize disparate data elements that need to be displayed in a way that provides the right information, at the right time, to the right care provider. They help to provide access to evidence based information from within CRIS.

• Portfolio Office
  The Portfolio Office provides the processes around managing CC applications and projects from inception to disposition following the OMB Enterprise Performance Life Cycle framework. The Portfolio Office works in partnership with the IT Advisory Group (ITAG) to evaluate, prioritize and schedule new projects and initiatives.

• Security and Privacy Office
  The Security and Privacy Office assures all administrative and clinical systems within the NIH Clinical Center comply with the NIH Enterprise Information Security Plan and respective government regulations in order to protect the organization's sensitive data. The operations staff investigate security vulnerabilities, working with users and technical staff to mitigate the risk to the organization. The Clinical Center Privacy Officer ensures CC systems protect individually identifiable information in accordance with The Privacy Act. The Clinical Center Information Systems Security Officer is responsible for ensuring the security of the Clinical Center's IT systems.

• IT Budget & IT Capital Planning Office
  The IT Budget and Capital planning office is responsible for the purchase of the Clinical Center IT equipment and IT-based maintenance contracts as well as the planning, purchasing, and deployment of CERC-IT. The office also manages the distribution of wireless devices and its vendor contracts. The office maintains a stock of standardized IT equipment that departments can purchase throughout the year.

Clinical Informatics

• CRIS System Configuration
  These team members configure a wide range of components in the clinical system including orders, order sets, clinical documentation, results, ADT/registration functions, application security and environmental profile settings. This team also incorporates NIH, HHS, other regulatory agencies, decision support, and communication standards into system development to facilitate clinical care, system interoperability, and research.

• CRIS Custom Programming
  These team members design, build and implement custom solutions to address requirements necessary to support the clinical care and patient research activities in the CRIS system. Some of the work includes: Medical Logic Modules (MLMs), Custom tabs (Protocol Info, ICD9, Appointments, Meds View) using Objects Plus programming.

• Implementation Support
  Several members of this team provide support before, during and after system implementations. This includes implementations of new systems, large system upgrades and smaller system enhancements. It includes activation planning and communication surrounding the implementation as well as being on-site during implementations to support end users through downtime and recovery.

• CRIS Training
  Team members are healthcare professionals with expertise in clinical informatics, education, and instructional design. The team's goal is that users of CRIS and other clinical information systems will be competent and efficient using these technologies. Members design and deliver training materials in a variety of formats (pdfs, FAQs, videos), evaluate the user educational experience, and provide ongoing learning resources. They develop customized role-based training, deliver eLearning courses, facilitate learning in the CRIS training lab, provide CRIS training support, and offer ongoing staff development. Additionally, team members communicate system upgrades and new features, analyze metrics for quality improvement, and offer graduate student practicum experiences.

• Business Process Analysis
  Several members of the informatics team spend time with customers, assessing their needs and observing their processes as they interact with clinical systems in order to gather and define clear requirements that can be implemented as a new technical solution or as an enhancement. The team also facilitates workflow analysis and process redesign for new projects and clinical needs involving CRIS.

• CRIS Reports and Analytics
  This team develops and disseminates a variety of reports and data queries. They work with end users to develop reports available via CRIS to support clinical and research care of the patient. They also work with researchers and administrators to pull data from our various systems to provide information that is used to assess current status, look for trends and improvements and provide research data.

• Customer Support
  Members of this team provide both proactive and reactive support to our end user community. They respond to calls for assistance that are clinical in nature and strive to provide exceptional customer service. They have also developed methods to reach out to users routinely by conducting unit CRIS rounds, manning a CRIS Booth and facilitating User Group meetings. They communicate and educate system changes on an ongoing basis both internally and to our end users.

• Outcomes and Evaluation
  This team's focus is to assess the effectiveness of system implementations and enhancements. They work to identify priority areas to evaluate, collect data and report findings in order to recommend and implement system improvements. They include members from other sections within the department as well as key external stakeholders.

• Clinical Documentation/Liaison
  This team supports electronic clinical documentation to multi-disciplinary clinicians (from nursing to clinical information systems to physicians) and researchers throughout the Clinical Center and NIH Institutes. They configure and create clinical documentation allowing clinicians to electronically document on patients at the point of care, providing valuable data required to make educated clinical decisions in the delivery of safe and efficient patient care. They ensure governance and healthcare mandates are successfully incorporated into clinical documents while implementing standardization. The team accomplishes their mission through collaboration, effective bi-directional communication, education and training, facilitating system enhancements, establishing process improvements, quality controls, while maintaining industry best practices of clinical standards of care.

• CRIS User Access Management
  This team manages user accounts in CRIS SCM. This includes the development and maintenance of procedures for creating, modifying, and inactivating CRIS Core user accounts. In addition, this team provides the ongoing maintenance of tasks surrounding security access to the CRIS application as it relates to system configuration.

Technical Operations

• Applications Team
  The Custom Applications Team develops custom applications for users. This team supports the software development life cycle from idea conception, procurement, planning, design, development, testing, activation, operations and maintenance and retirement. Applications designed, developed and maintained include the Department of Lab Medicine (DLM)/Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) Test Guide, Occurrence Reporting System, Hospital Services, Recruitment Volunteer System, multiple course registration systems, Credentialing System, Protocol Tracking and many others.

• Databases
  The Databases Team supports the database servers used to provide the Clinical and Administrative systems supported by DCRI. This includes multiple Oracle, MS SQL Server and Sybase database servers. Examples of clinical systems supported include CRIS Sunrise, the Surgical Information System, Pharmacy systems (ScriptPro, Omnicell), the Nutrition System CBORD and many others.

• Interface
  When an item is ordered or a patient is registered, the data is sent to multiple Clinical Information Systems. When the item is resulted, the data is then sent back to CRIS Sunrise. This data interoperability is provided through HL7, File and XML interfaces. The Interface team is comprised of staff that plan, document, design, implement, test and activate these interfaces. Systems that are interfaced with CRIS Sunrise include the Laboratory Information System (LIS), Radiology Information System (RIS), the EKG system, the NEI clinical system, the NIAID CRIMSON system, and many others.

• Network Administration
  The Network Administration team operates in a very dynamic environment and provides comprehensive support to anticipate, meet, and exceed customer's requirements. The Networking team is responsible for all data communication entering/leaving/resident in the Clinical Center Data Center which includes administration of firewalls, DMZ, routers, switches, VLANS and VPNs. The Networking team is also responsible for DCRI network connectivity from the Clinical Center edge router interface right to the wall plate of each user within the Clinical Center.

• Systems Administration and Data Center Management
  The System Administration and Data Center Management teams enhance productivity at the Clinical Center by providing reliable access and prompt support of computer systems and their associated applications. The teams maintain over 600 hundred servers and other pieces of computer related equipment in the Clinical Center Datacenter. Services and systems supported include basic network services (such as email and file sharing), remote access, CITRIX, Nutrition, Pharmacy, CRIS, and related clinical information systems.

• Systems Monitoring
  The Systems Monitoring team ensures the consistent, reliable availability of critical computer and networking systems by monitoring all operational clinical systems. Team members provide 24/7 technical user support and communicate with users regarding any CRIS system interruptions.

• Technical Customer Support
  The Technical Customer Support team provides customer-focused IT services and technical support to users. The team includes a Service Center, Tier II Support and a Special Projects section. The team supports over 5,000 devices within Clinical and Administrative areas. This includes the support of desktop computers, laptops, the standard clinical desktops, workstation on wheels (WOWs), barcode devices, and mobile devices.

• Unix Administration
  The Unix Administration team provides support to multiple IBM, SUN and LINUX Unix Based Systems in operation within the CC. The team maintains over 60 servers and other pieces of computer related equipment in the Clinical Center Datacenter. Services and systems supported include basic database support, SunRay access, custom application support and website management.

Portfolio Office

• Enterprise Architecture
  The Enterprise Architecture (EA) Office integrates business processes, information technology and application architecture to ensure each are aligned to CC and DCRI organizational strategies and operational activities. Major duties include evaluating new projects and application requests, verifying technical system compliance to NIH guidelines, developing technical options for IT solutions, identifying the technology road map, and developing an IT strategy for progress on CC and DCRI goals and objectives.

• Configuration Management
  The Configuration Management (CM) team provides a standard methodology for change management of all configurable items in CC applications. These system changes are limited in scope and work effort, but still require a formal process from request through approval, development, testing and migration between environments. The CM team works closely with the PMO for tracking changes that are included in projects.

• Project Management Office
  The Project Management Office (PMO) is responsible for defining and maintaining a standard methodology, based on industry best practices, for the planning and execution of all Clinical Center IT projects. The PMO is comprised of a tightly integrated team of project managers and system analysts who lead the coordination, documentation, and implementation of projects undertaken by DCRI. With a focus on skillful communication and customer outreach, the PMO provides education, guidance, and tools to leads of initiatives and projects throughout the CC.

• Test Team
  The Test Team provides testing support for CC projects and configuration management activities. Major duties include consulting with customers to define testing scope and objectives, developing a test plan, testing scripts and scenarios based on system and process requirements, and ensuring the proper testing of all systems components.

Budget & Capital Planning

• Budget & Capital Planning
  The mission of Budget and Capital planning is to manage the DCRI, Telecom, and CERC-IT budgets, facilitate and manage all the CC IT purchases and deployments for devices, services, and maintenance contracts. Prepare all the statements of work and other supporting documentation in support of the IT purchases and contracts. Ensure and the vendor maintenance contracts are funded and in place to support the mission critical IT systems at the CC.

• Program Support
  The mission of the Program Support team is to enhance productivity within the department by providing effective and timely administrative support to DCRI staff, leadership, and project teams.

• Inventory & Property Management
  The mission of the Asset Management team is to assure that computers, printers and communication devices are available and managed effectively to support DCRI and other Clinical Center departments, as well as research initiatives conducted at the Clinical Center.

• Security Team
  The Security team is made up of an Information Security Officer (ISSO) and alternate ISSOs that assure all administrative and clinical systems within the NIH Clinical Center comply with the NIH Enterprise Information Security Plan and respective government regulations in order to protect the organization's sensitive data. The operations staff investigates security vulnerabilities, working with users and technical staff to mitigate the risk to the organization to include the system/application, server, networks, and workstation levels.

• Privacy Team
  The Clinical Center Privacy Officer ensures CC systems protect individually identifiable information in accordance with The Privacy Act. The Privacy Officer collaborates with the NIH Office of the Senior Official for Privacy to develop/maintain System of Record Notices and Privacy Impact Assessments for CC IT systems and Third Party Web Applications that collect personally identifiable information and responds to quarterly and annual FISMA data calls. The Privacy Officer advises CC staff on privacy issues, ensures completion of privacy awareness training and fosters the adoption of privacy policy and procedures within the CC. In collaboration with the IT system owner, the Privacy Officer responds to request for records and investigates complaints from individuals who believe their PII has been inappropriately obtained, used, disclosed, or may be inaccurate. In collaboration with NIH Incident Response Team, the Privacy Officer is responsible for the documentation to NIH and HHS related to security incidents involving loss of PII and suspected breaches of PII.

Special Services

• DCRI Store
  The DCRI Store is a service where departments can order both stock items such as the CC standard configuration desktop, laptops, and special order items like software applications, special computer and laptop configurations as well as other IT specific items.

• ITC
  The Clinical Center Information Technology Center (ITC) provides NIH Clinical Center employees with the latest technologies supporting clinical research and patient care. The center was developed to provide Clinical Center employees with sophisticated computing resources. Many departments within the Clinical Center cannot justify the purchase of high-end equipment and have been forced to complete projects through less efficient means. The Clinical Center recognized this need and has responded with a resource center in Building 10. The ITC, located on the basement level of the Clinical Center (B1S235), is equipped with computers, color printers, poster printers, scanning devices, slide makers, and other equipment. An ITC staff member is available to answer questions and assist with projects. Any user entering the ITC will have access to any available computer equipment and a knowledgeable staff person. You will get assistance with special projects, computer-based training, and file and image conversions. NIH Clinical Center employees can expect to have access to a full array of specialized computing resources and to receive high quality support from the ITC.