Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles.Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.
Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:

• New Hire Premium : 6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differential Pay : varies per classification.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package : includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position : Health Information Services Specialist I/II - Shift - Bilingual
Compensation
The estimated pay for this position is $18.0243 to $22.8411. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees' Retirement Plan.
Job Description
Under general direction performs healthcare information support activities, which may include: forms control, records processing, chart completion, and release of information.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Health Information Services Specialist I/II have knowledge of the procedures used to collect health information and to process charts and associated records; responsible, complex assignments in all phases of Health Information Services. Assignments may be made in forms control, records processing, chart completion, or release of information.
Essential Functions:

• Responds to requests from patients, families, and staff for information and inquiries related to patients, policies, and/or other related information; researches records discrepancies; resolves patient requests.
• Reviews and analyzes medical information for documentation accuracy and completion.
• Collects and processes health information, entering it into proper patient charts and information systems.
• Prepares, organizes, files, reconciles, and records a variety of healthcare data and information; processes patient records.
• Creates, organizes, verifies, and processes a variety of healthcare charts, files, and other documents by: retrieving records, maintaining chart tracking accuracy, obtaining discharge records, updating and preparing patient folders, and ordering and filing charts.
• Compiles and maintains fiscal information, updates patients account records, and prepares related reports.
• Prepares meeting agendas; attends meetings and takes minutes; distributes meeting minutes to appropriate individuals.
• Creates, updates, and maintains forms database.
• Prepares, scans and commits documents to online archive; verifies the accuracy of scanned documents with source documents; and ensures documents are properly indexed for accurate retrieval.
• Reviews scanned information to ensure accuracy, assignment, tracking and release of chart deficiencies.
• Participates in compliance audits.
• Identifies process inefficiencies and recommends policy, process, and systems improvements; educates and assists clinical staff with awareness and resolution of issues preventing chart completion.
• Responds to requests for the release of medical information and ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations; prepares birth certificates.
• Represents functional area at HIPAA compliance meetings and reports information back to department.
• Performs other job related duties as required.

Employment Standards:
Level I: High School Diploma, G.E.D., orequivalentand one (1) year of experience in medical records, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to obtain the knowledge and skill to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Level II: High School Diploma, G.E.D., or equivalentand two (2) years of experience in medical records, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to obtain the knowledge and skill to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. A class in medical terminology is preferred. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Register Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification is desirable.
Additional Requirements:
Some assignments may require certification of typing/keyboard speed of 40 net words per minute.
Knowledge of: English grammar usage and spelling, customer service principles; basic filing and record keeping principles, medical terminology, HIPAA privacy practices and compliance practices, medical record file room operations.
Ability to: Operate a variety of office machines; communicate effectively both orally and in writing sufficient to perform the essential functions; use computers and various software to accomplish work; problem solve; proofread.
A background check will be conducted for this classification.