Senior Outpatient Coder

Overview

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 the electronic medical record while maintaining compliance with established rules and regulatory guidelines.

• Education:
  
  Associate’s or higher degree in a Comission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Managment accredited program or additional two years of experience (in addition to the minimum experience requirements listed below) in lieu of degree
• Experience:
  
  Three years of relevant outpatient coding experience or successful completion of the Houston Methodist Senior Outpatient Coder Transition Program
• Licenses and Certifications (Required):
• 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 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 feedback during coding section meetings and coding education in-services and takes initiative to assist others and share knowledge
• 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
• Assigns diagnostic and procedural codes to encounters of high complexity and maintains departmental standards of coding quality

• On-Call No
• Travel: may require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area; may require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.