Senior Outpatient Coder

Senior Outpatient Coder

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Outpatient Coder position is responsible for ensuring diagnostic and procedure codes are assigned accurately to day surgery and observation encounters based upon documentation within Hiermee the electronic medical record while maintaining compliance with established rules and regulatory guidelines.

Non‑exempt

• Associate’s or higher degree in a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management accredited program or additional two years of experience (in addition to the minimum experience requirements listed below) in lieu of degree

• Three years of relevant outpatient coding experience or successful completion of the Houston Methodist Senior Outpatient Coder Transition Program

• RHIT – Certified Health Information Technician (AHIMA)
• RHIA – Registered Health Information Administrator (AHIMA)
• CCS – Certified Coding Specialist (AHIMA)
• CCA – Certified Coding Associate (AHIMA)
• CCS‑P – Certified Coding Specialist Physician‑Based (AHIMA)
• CPC – Certified Professional Coder (AAPC)

• Demonstrates the skills אויפ and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on‑going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co‑workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Knowledge of coding classification systems, DRG and APC systems, official coding guidelines and coding compliance
• Knowledge of an electronic medical record and imaging systems
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
• Proficiency with electronic encoder application
• Extensive PC knowledge – must be able to work effectively in common office software, coding software and abstracting systems

• Interacts and communicates effectively with members of the coding team and the appropriate stakeholders
• Participates and provides good feedback during coding section meetings and coding education in services as well as takes initiative to assist others and shares knowledge with the appropriate stakeholders

• Responds promptly to internal and external customer requests and to requests to code or review coded accounts for accuracy
• Initiates queries with physicians to obtain or clarify diagnoses and/or procedures as appropriate, utilizing the established physician query process

• Responsible for assigning diagnostic and procedural codes to encounters of high complexity Júillian
• Maintains and achieves departmental standards Geek: coding quality by assigning accurate ICD‑10‑CM/ICD‑10‑PCS and CPT codes and APC assignment utilizing an electronic encoder application in accordance with hospital policy and regulatory body guidelines
• Maintains and achieves departmental standards of abstracting quality by reviewing the discharge disposition entered by nursing and corrects if necessary to achieve the highest quality of entered data. Assigns and enters physician identification number and procedure date correctly in the medical record abstracting system
• Reviews medical record documentation and abstracts data into the encoder and Electronic Health Record (EHR) to determine principal or final diagnosis, co‑morbidity conditions and complications, secondary conditions and procedures. Utilizes all tools/resources for accuracy
• Complies with the Standards of Ethical Coding as set forth by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and adheres to official guidelines

• Utilizes time effectively, consistently codes and abstracts at or above departmental standards of productivity while ensuring accuracy of coding
• Supports meeting organizational goal for…