Ray Ernst Email & Phone Number

Coronado, Ca, Us

The Missouri S&T Computer Science Advisory board provides the following services to the Computer Science department at Missouri S&T:Consultancy: Provide consultation and input for the Department on ways to improve the quality of the Department, the programs, and the learning environment.Ambassadorship: Assist the Department by communicating the Department's goals, programs, needs, and contributions to the community.Sponsorship: Advance the objectives of the Department by identifying, securing, and providing resources needed for a successful program.

Developing Quality Improvements Programs for Accountable Care Organization (ACO) related to both URAC accreditation and Medicare clinical quality measurements for PQRS (Physician Quality Reporting System). Developing policies, processes, measurements, data collection, data analysis, clinical workflow, patient and physician engagement. Using Six Sigma and other quality management processes in developing policies and procedures at enterprise level.Learning how to structure quality improvements programs to meet the needs of URAC accreditation as well as Medicare PQRS requirements to leverage the work. Our target population is the elderly and I am surprised by the percentage of patients that are at-risk for what we are measuring. The good news is that the data is helping to identify these at-risk patients for (early) PCP interventions.Assisted with URAC accreditation process for pharmacy operations with short-term project management and policy development. Also assisted with VIPPS accreditation. Scope included pharmacy operations, controlled substance compliance, shipping / cold-chain processes, patient safety, training, and job descriptions. Developed checklist for quality management committee including metrics management, incident review and corrective actions, and monthly, quarterly, and annual quality, safety, and compliance elements.

Management consulting projects. Our work on patient-reported clinical outcomes, patient engagement, and a medical device registry was recognized with a bronze award from URAC (a healthcare quality organization) in 2013.Although we worked on many projects, working with clinical data on the registry project was a significant learning experience. For example, provided data on how many patients have multiple joint surgeries and co-morbidity conditions for risk adjustments. Most traditional clinical trials exclude patients with co-morbidities in order to eliminate interfering variables; however, this 'pure' population doesn't represent reality. This was also a good learning experience on patient engagement (for patient reported outcomes) that was done entirely electronically (majority of patients participated based on the explanation that study was for improving medical device and procedure quality). We also developed bundled payments and physician pay-for-performance systems encompassing policies and measurements based on analytics and data models.

I enjoyed teaching (part-time) at the University of Phoenix both in the classroom and online. Initially I taught in the computer science college but then switched to the graduate business college to teach MBA courses on strategy, quantitative analysis, e-business, management, technology management. I was also involved in mentoring new faculty, new faculty training, being the champion on the MBA introductory course, quality audits, etc.I view teaching more as facilitating learning than teaching. We had many discussions on current business issues, workplace skills and problem handling, and topics related to globalization, ethics, applications of technology, and innovation. Frequently, I taught the first course in the MBA program and the last; amazing how students progressed in terms of knowledge, skills, and critical thinking.Teaching is a great learning experience in terms of content, communicating, and listening. Teaching is not so much about what one teaches; it more about what the student learns (probing, listening, assessing in different ways to improve process).Almost all the students were working adults struggling with career advancement, jobs, time constraints, financial demands, etc. These experiences later motivated my thinking and writing on professional development leveraging social media.

Managed clinical data conversion project involving five hospitals and over 19M records used for physician online access, reporting, and general (population) analysis and studies.Learn some of the complexities of big data related to healthcare. Some of these records were over seven years old at the time. Although all in standard formats, such as, HL7, there were many discrepancies as implementations were different and the standards changed over time. Details were critical; there is a big difference between concepts and reality in healthcare. Also learned the importance of regression testing with this data conversion as fixes to one problem caused problems to previously correct conversions. The end results did show the importance of consolidated data that provided a more comprehensive view of patient history as well as population insights.

I worked at NaviNet (formerly NaviMedix), an e-health company with headquarters in Cambridge, MA, from 2000 to 2003 as VP Business Development. Subsequently, I consulted with them on multiple projects and initiatives. This e-Health company manages (SaaS) provider-to-payer interactions, such as insurance verification, reimbursement investigation, referrals, and authorizations. Sample project / accomplishments: Conducted quantitative analysis projects to study customer behavior related to product utilization and developed initiatives for product enhancements (development), product positioning (marketing), and improvements for customer utilization and retention (account management and customer service).

This e-Health company manages (SaaS) provider-to-payer interactions, such as insurance verification, reimbursement investigation, referrals, and authorizations. Worked on team to sell and set up long-term (3 year) contracts with major healthcare payers (e.g. Aetna). Was lead on contract development and negotiations. Took the lead on integration of a claims / EDI company that we purchased.

While at EDS in business development, we developed a joint venture (Kinetra) between EDS and Eli Lilly consisting of assets (organizations) from each company to create an internet eHealth company that facilitated (secure) communications between physician offices and hospitals. I worked briefly at Kinetra until it was sold to WebMD in 1999.At Kinetra, I helped in developing a relationship with HealthNet (New Ventures group) which along with PacifiCare formed a new eHealth company, MediUnite. Continued working setting up MedUnite after terminating with Kinetra when it was purchased by WebMD.

Business Development, Channel Programs, Marketing, Quality Initiatives, Program Management / Project Management, eHealth development, and Joint Ventures.Start in the Manufacturing & Engineering division as business manager for integration of the Northrop / McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 E/F redesign involving about 500 engineers and support in CA and another 400 in St. Louis on CAD/CAM and related engineering systems. Transferred to the Healthcare division to support logistics for Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems to integrated sales, marketing, and supply chain management for 30 divisions. Worked on channel programs, taking the Cisco relationship from technical procurement to a strategic business relationship for healthcare. This business model was subsequently transferred to two other industry divisions.Helped to set up an early internet venture. Took EDS and Eli Lilly assets (people, systems, customer base) to set up a new joint venture, Kinetra, that was subsequently sold to WebMD.Learned how to think bigger, more creatively and to expand the value propositions to a client resulting in larger engagements and contracts.

Systems Engineer, Prin. Consultant, Sr Manager

Mba, Operations Management

Activities and Societies: MBA thesis was published in Journal of Business Strategy: "How to Streamline Operations" and "Why Automating.

Certificate Of Studies, International Affairs

This program consisted of five graduate courses in international studies. This program helped me to think at a higher or macro level.

Ms, Computer Science, Queuing Theory And Op Systems

Activities and Societies: Tau Kappa Epsilon. I enjoyed graduate school much more than undergraduate due to the increased focus..

Bs, Applied Math

Activities and Societies: Tau Kappa Epsilon. My father, a machinist in the physics department at St. Louis University, told me I had to go.