Job Summary:

Responsible for leading and directing the Health Information Management (HIM) department striving for confidentiality, compliance and promoting best practices. Essential Functions: Consistently uses an outward mindset and puts forth exemplary effort in accomplishing his/her goals and objectives in a manner that helps others to achieve their goals and objectives.

Daily Operations

Develops and oversees processes in the HIM department; ensures that HIM processes meet the organization’s internal and external information needs. Oversees the accurate coding and abstracting of medical records to support accurate and timely reimbursement. Actively participates in various committees within the organization as identified. Responsible for initiating and maintaining contracts with vendors for outsourced HIM functions. Ensures information systems support current and future needs of the department and organization. Works closely with the Information Systems department for testing, installation and staff education to producer and maintain high quality data integrity. Works with risk management, legal counsel, administrative staff, key departments, and committees to ensure current organizational practices and regulatory requirements are met. Instrumental in form/template design for the electronic health record. Actively works with Information Systems and other key departments to develop forms/templates to enhance high quality data collection. Serves as an internal consultant on health information management issues including release of information, documentation management, confidentiality, information security, information storage and retrieval and record retention.

Strategic Planning

Develops the HIM department through ongoing planning consistent with the organization’s mission, vision, and values as well as the organizational goals outlined in the strategic plan. Establishes, coordinates, and communicates departmental goals within the framework of the organizations strategic plan. Designs, arranges, and maintains the physical environment by organizing personnel and equipment within the space and budget available to facilitate smooth workflow; optimizing space efficiency to ensure safety. Prepares and utilizes the annual operating budget for the HIM department and capital expense requests. Monitors spending by evaluating budget reports. Ensures resources are appropriate for department staff to meet job demands; considers future services and projects the budget accordingly.

Quality Management

Monitors productivity and quality according to department and organizational guidelines. Participates in monitoring, evaluating, educating, and improving the quality of health information. Identifies problems, tracks trends and initiates actions to meet and improve departmental standards. Utilizes the findings of performance improvement activities following up on both positive and negative quality improvement findings.

Compliance

Works collaboratively with risk management, department heads, Information Systems and Human Resources to minimize the potential risk of privacy and security breaches, to mitigate damages if any and to resolve related issues. Promotes activities to foster information confidentiality and privacy awareness within the organization. Monitors local, national, and international trends in healthcare delivery.

Human Resource Management

Staff the HIM Department sufficiently to provide efficient and effective services. Reviews and approves personnel matters pertaining to interviews, hiring, and training of new staff. Reviews provisions for staff development, training, and orientation. Organizes the department in such a way that decisions are made, and problems solved at the appropriate level. Fosters a strong working relationship between medical staff, administration, hospital departments and HIM staff. Motivates and empowers staff in the successful performance of their tasks and responsibilities to support the organizational needs and encourage innovation. Supports staff continuing education efforts. Encourages and provides continuing education through in-service programs, meeting, and other opportunities for professional growth. Maintains adequate dialogue with employees. Make formal and informal presentation orally and in writing as needed. Provides staff with resources, tools, training, and feedback to meet performance. Monitors, evaluates, or disciplines employee according to organizational standards.

Minimum Qualifications: Associate degree in Health Information Management. RHIA or RHIT required. Previous related operational and supervisory experience. Minimum of 5-10 years’ experience in Health Information.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities : Bachelor’s preferred. Experience with electronic health records, health information systems and healthcare applications, and regulations and accreditation standards. Knowledge of specific state and federal requirements and standards related to the management of health information. Maintain professional relationships with state and national organizations to gain insight and understanding of future trends, regulations, etc. Expertise in healthcare confidentiality, access, release of information practices, privacy and security and knowledge of compliance. Expertise in health information management best practices, processes, and procedures. Knowledge of medical terminology, classification systems (coding) and vocabularies. Demonstrates leadership skills and exercises judgment within generally defined practices and policies when problem solving. Takes the initiative to make decisions and advocate for change.

Working Conditions: Work generally in an office environment with standard office equipment.

Physical Requirements: Constantly sit, see/visual acuity, talk/hear. Frequently reach, handle/grasp/feel. Occasionally lift/carry 1 to 49 lbs.