Health Information (HIM) Specialist

Job Summary: The Health Information Specialist works in a team-centered environment handling incoming and outgoing health information data to provide an organized and complete electronic medical record for coordination of care, billing, auditing, and reporting.

Job is detailed-oriented and requires the ability to focus in a busy environment, working and problem-solving independently, prioritizing and delivering time-sensitive reports to providers for patient care.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: include the following: (other duties may be assigned):

• Works directly with the public either in person or via phone and expected to handle each person in a prompt and professional manner.
• Reviews documents received via FAX, determining relevance, routing documents per procedure and notifying provider within 24 hours of receipt with 98% accuracy.
• Processes and prioritizes referrals ordered by providers per procedure with priority referrals being submitted within 24 hours of receipt.
• Scans and indexes hard copy medical documents to the correct patient and category in the electronic chart within 72 hours of receipt with 98% accuracy.
• Tracks referrals and follows up with specialist or patient, communicating status of referrals to providers with follow-up rate goal of 50%.
• Assists with obtaining data from outside sources (CCHIE/EPIC) for next day scheduled patients and uploading pertinent documents per procedure – pre-visit planning.
• Assists in tracking hospital and emergency room discharges to make information available to care team.
• Request authorization for referral services per procedure.
• Processes request for medical record information and must follow all federal and state guidelines per HIPAA and policy guidelines.
• Works under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Attends huddles, department and staff meetings and actively participate as needed.
• Supports your coworkers and promotes a productive, friendly work environment.
• Enhances department and clinic by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different request; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Corporate Compliance: It is an essential job element that everyone be compliant with the full law and fully cooperates with the compliance program without fear of retaliations from the organization.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following: (other duties may be assigned)

See above.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skills, and/or ability required:

• High school graduate with successful completion of some college courses required.
• Must have 2 years of experience in a health care setting preferably experience with referrals and preauthorization.
• Medical terminology required.
• Must be proficient in MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word
• Prefer Associate Degree in Health Information Management or related area business administration or management; or public health.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL/MOTOR SKILLS: The incumbent must have the ability to use standard office equipment: including computers, photocopiers, and facsimile machines. Posses the ability to learn, understand, and use Internet insurance eligibility systems.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Must possess cognitive reasoning skills and the ability to think clearly in high-pressure situations. The employee possesses excellent telephone etiquette, interpersonal and customer service skills. Teamwork and communication skills essential.

MENTAL ABILITIES: Must have the ability to prioritize and withstand pressure of continual work with variable requirements. The employee must have the ability to concentrate and maintain accuracy despite frequent interruptions. Possesses critical thinking, organizational, problem solving and reasoning skills/capabilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: The employee must possess the ability to speak English fluently. The ability to speak other languages is a plus.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, and hear, use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

The special vision requirements for this job are close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions for this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MedNorth Health Center provides comprehensive health care services, inside a multi-cultural medical/dental clinic, to all individuals; insured, uninsured, and underinsured. The building is heated in winter and air conditioned in the summer with noise levels of moderate to loud. We serve patients who speak multiple languages and who may need the assistance of an interpreter. In this position one may be subject to exposure to copier toner, correction fluid, bright fluorescent lighting, and continuous personal computer exposure.

This job is a Blood borne Pathogens risk category III position.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

The employee is expected to attend work daily and to be at work on time.

The employee is expected to be a team player.

The employee is expected to report absences in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.

The employee's work is expected to be accurate, neat, and thorough, and completed on time.

The employee is expected to have a positive attitude, be cooperative, and considerate of others.

The employee is expected to be dependable and is expected to accept responsibility for assignments and duties given.

The employee is expected to dress and act in a professional manner and adheres to all safety standards.

The employee is expected to participate in staff meetings, be courteous and polite with patients and other staff.

The employee is expected to maintain confidentiality.