[Hiring] Clinical Documentation Specialist @Hennepin Healthcare

Role Description

Under the direction of Coding and Documentation leadership, provides active concurrent review, feedback, and education to physicians and healthcare providers to improve documentation of all conditions and treatments in the inpatient medical record, to ensure an accurate reflection of the patient condition in the associated MS-DRG assignments, case-mix index, severity of illness and risk of mortality profiling and reimbursement.

Responsibilities

• Conducts initial and continued-stay concurrent reviews on inpatient admissions and documents findings using the designated CDI software, Coding software and Epic electronic record as necessary.
• Identifies procedures and secondary diagnoses for co-morbidities/complications and documents appropriately within the designated CDI software, Coding software and Epic electronic record.
• Identifies documentation issues within the medical record around ICD-10-CM Diagnosis and ICD-10 PCS procedure codes.
• Communicates via a query process to the Medical Staff, Advanced practice practitioners (APP’s) and other providers, including medical residents as necessary.
• Assigns baseline and working DRG (APR or MS DRG), along with Severity of illness and Risk of Mortality to reviews using ICD-10-CM /PSC codes and procedures.
• Ensures the timeliness of all written and verbal queries from providers to ensure proper documentation is obtained and placed in the medical record before patient discharge whenever possible.
• Identifies potential Patient safety indicators (PSI) and Hospital acquired conditions (HAC) codes and notifies appropriate staff personnel for further review.
• Conducts post discharge reviews and reconciliation of DRG assignment and baseline DRG, ensuring correct outcome for all coding queries responses.
• Educates physicians, clinicians, and other involved parties regarding the necessity of providing complete and clear documentation of the care provided.
• Applies federal and state documentation and coding (ICD-10-CM/PCS) guidelines to ensure physician and hospital compliance.
• Identifies documentation trends and issues and reports these to CDI leadership, as well as the inpatient coding management and staff as needed.
• Interacts with coding team to resolve documentation and coding issues and ensure proper DRG assignment.
• Prepares and provides service-specific information and education to physicians and other care providers, related to provider documentation and its effects on coding, compliance, profiling and reimbursement.
• Participates in educational programs and in-services in order to maintain clinical documentation requirements, knowledge and ICD-10-CM /PCS coding requirements.
• Portrays a professional manner in dress and all communication skills.
• Must have effective interpersonal skills to effectively interact, communicate, and maintain good working relationships with Medical Staff, Advanced Practice Practitioners (APP’s), other providers and team members.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and assist others in completing the work of the team.
• Performs other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, and two (2) years of professional nursing experience in an emergency department, medical or surgical area of an acute hospital setting -OR-
• Graduation from an AHIMA accredited program as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and at least three (3) years of recent inpatient coding experience -OR-
• Graduation from an AHIMA accredited program as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and at least four (4) years of recent inpatient coding experience -OR-
• An approved equivalent combination of education and experience.

Requirements

• Registration as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) by the American Health Information Management Association -OR-
• Maintain current licensure by the Minnesota Board of Nursing as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with some dental focus and business background.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of specialty healthcare and dentistry.
• Knowledge of dental insurance and financial coordination.
• Excellent communication skills in person and on telephone.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently.
• Exceptional time management skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and regulations.
• Essential knowledge of dental insurance coverages and programs, including prior authorization, payment plans, and collecting co-pays or payments.
• Strong organizational skills.