HIM Coding and Documentation Educator

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Responsible for the education of staff and physicians in the CDI Program processes.  Serves  as the HIM and clinical documentation subject matter expert, ensuring accurate representation of the severity of illness in the medical record and compliance with all regulatory requirements, coding ethics and revenue cycle requirements.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education:
-Must have successfully completed an approved coding program OR

-Must be a graduate of a Health Information Management program.

Experience:

-Must have five years of coding experience in an acute care hospital.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience:

-May have an equivalent combination of education and/or experience in lieu of specific education and/or experience as stated above.

Certification/Registration/Licensure:

- Because of the lag in SCCE, HCCA, NCRA, and AHIMA updating the status of certifications, current employees whose certification is granted through one of these associations are allowed up to seven (7) calendar days, after expiration, to provide proof of renewal. Although an additional seven (7) calendar days is allowed to provide proof of renewal, there cannot be a lapse in the certification's "active" status.

- Must have or obtain within six (6) months of hire into role an AHIMA Approved ICD 10 Trainer .

- Mush have one of the below certifications through the American Health Information Management Association:

- Registered Health Information Management Technician (RHIT)

- Registered Health Information Management Administrator (RHIA)

- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

- Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Based (CCS-P)

Required Tests for Placement

- Must score a minimum of 85% on a pre-employment coding test.

Skills or Special Abilities

- Must be able to demonstrate time management, organizational, oral and written communication skills.

- Must be able to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT/HCPCS coding procedures.

- Must possess strong knowledge and practice of specific laws and regulations related to coding and billing imposed on healthcare systems by various agencies.

- Must possess a strong knowledge of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS Official Coding Guidelines, AHA Coding Clinic and AMA CPT Assistant.

- Must be able to proactively prioritize educational activities and provide coding training services to new coding staff, clinical documenters and external customers.

- Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with Parkland staff and other staff as needed.

- Must be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of personal computers to include encoder, word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation software, and other software as needed.

Responsibilities

1. Responsible for facilitating a collaborative approach between the HIM coding team and Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) specialists.

2. Develops and implements a system-wide coding training program to promote the development of coders internally.

3. Provides coding and medical record documentation guidance and in-service education presentations and training sessions for Parkland staff to include medical staff, nursing, coders and others as needed to ensure Parkland is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

4. Performs chart reviews for accuracy and compliance when there is a discrepancy in the CDI and the coder DRG assignment. Reviews data and provides regular feedback to the coding staff, physicians and CDI specialists. Communicates with physicians as needed to resolve coding and/or documentation clarifications.

5. Facilitates application of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines, AHIMA coding ethics, and CDI documentation strategies.

6. Collaborates with Compliance for system-wide education for the medical staff for new and current coding guidelines and documentation practices.

7. Brings forward recommendations for documentation improvement in preparation for ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation.

Job Accountabilities 

1.  Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.

2.  Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.

3.  Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.

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Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.