System Director – Health Information Management

Overview

Primary responsibility for the functions of Health Information Management (HIM), Clinicial Documentation and Coding, which includes: budgeting, monitoring, planning and directing. Under the general direction of the CFO, the HIM Director is responsible for affecting the ongoing quality and efficiency for all areas and processes of the department. In accordance with regulatory bodies, the incumbent must provide systems for acquiring, analyzing, storing and retrieving information so that it can be readily available when needed. Important factors to the success of this position are strategic planning for process improvement, active participation in all revenue cycle functions and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with other key leaders, staff and physicians.

Responsibilities

1. Manages departmental budget
2. Interviews, selects, hires, and retains employees, including other management positions
3. Ensures orientation and training for employees, including other management positions
4. Manages performance, including other management positions
5. Promotes, demotes, or transfers employees to meet organizational needs, including other management positions
6. Executes progressive discipline up to and including termination
7. Manages departmental productivity standards
8. Provides strategic leadership for department(s)
9. Performs long range planning and overall direction setting at the departmental level
10. Responsible for department organizational structure and alignment to meet forecasted business needs
11. Responsible for development, implementation and interpretation of system policies within a major organizational/functional area or the development and review of system policies within a recognized discipline
12. Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
13. Approves payroll and is responsible for accurate payment of employees, including other management positions
14. Assures meeting/exceeding of DCH mission and vision, departmental goals and 5 keys of excellence
15. Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
16. Plans, innovates, organizes and directs activities within the HIM department to include supervisory, technical and clerical personnel in the maintenance of medical records, data and HIM functions.
17. Responsible for timely and accurate release of medical information as required by both Federal and State law, working closely with hospital general counsel.
18. Responsible for the electronic medical record, as it relates to compliance, legal record keeping, information availability and accuracy.
19. Responsible for employee continuing education, job descriptions and timely evaluations for all employees within the department.
20. Works to consolidate processes and procedures within the department, providing the best use of staff skill with emphasis on reduction in employees if appropriate..
21. Coordinates the activities of the department with other hospital and clinical departments and functions through a variety of standing and ad hoc committees.
22. Responsible for evaluation of products and services beneficial to the HIM department and the facility with recommendations to Administration both pro and con.
23. Serves as a subject matter expert for department managers, staff, physicians and administration for obtaining information or clarification on documentation standards, state and federal law and regulatory requirements related to HIM, RAC, MAC and other mandates that impact the organization.
24. Facilitates collaboration with other departments or disciplines to achieve desired outcomes.
25. Ensures the appropriate dissemination and communication of all regulation, policy and guideline changes to affected personnel.
26. Monitors timeliness and effectiveness of department activities, ensuring that outstanding patient accounts and accounts receivables is not more than the agreed upon limit.
27. Maintain and report accurate and timely data to the CFO to support financial and informational presentations regarding the revenue cycle, denials for RAC, MAC and other regulatory agencies.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

WORK EXPERIENCE: Five years of health information management experience in directing HIM in a large acute care facility or otherwise comparable healthcare setting with Revenue cycle involvement.

LICENSE/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION: Certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

EDUCATION: Master’s Degree preferred. Bachelor’s Degree in Health Information Management or Bachelor Degree in related field with certification in Health Information required. 

SKILLS: Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Knowledge of compliance as it relates to healthcare. Current practice in area of responsibility; regulatory/governing standards, policies, and procedures; required computer/information systems; equipment used in performing assigned duties; ability to develop learning plans, give and receive feedback. Must be skilled in delegating, decision making, team building and managing conflict and change. Data interpretation and analysis is required. Word, Excel and Powerpoint experience required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

1. Physical presence onsite is essential.
2. Requires ability to work 8 hours quietly at a computer screen and keyboard/mouse.
3. Requires ability to withstand pressures of constant deadlines, audits, educational demands and changing healthcare environment.
4. Must be able to communicate with and mitigate situations with angry or dissatisfied people.
5. Must have the ability to accept criticism and to deal calmly and effectively in high stress situations.
6. Must be able to meet deadlines as assigned.
7. Must be able to perform disciplinary functions.
8. Ability to communicate verbally as well as in writing.
9. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
10. Must be able to adapt to changes in work area as assigned.
11. Ability to lead groups as well as work in groups.
12. Ability to make presentations to large groups.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

1. This position is considered light work. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
2. Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
3. Must have good dexterity. Should be able to reach and extend arms in any direction.
4. This job involves standing, walking, sitting, stooping, pushing, pulling, and crouching
5. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
6. Physical presence onsite is essential.

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