Director of Professional Coding Operations - Remote

Director Of Albany Med Health System, Professional Coding Operations

The Director of Albany Med Health System, Professional Coding Operations, is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of activities and services related to professional coding operations. This position is accountable for developing strategy and establishing efficiencies that align with the organizational goals. Responsible for ICD and CPT code assignment, case abstracting, charge capture, HCC capture and other billing edit work queues. Oversees the coding team, developing goals and objectives, and establishing policies and procedures for team operations, as well as ensuring proficiency, value and education related to professional coding guidelines. This position is responsible for positioning the AMHS professional coding operation for financial and operational sustainability, and proactively identifying and responding to internal and industry trends in addition to overseeing the development and communication of established performance targets, key performance indicators, and other departmental performance goals.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Strategic and Operational Planning
  • Create and manage a strong coding culture; ensures the recruitment, training, and retention of motivated coding specialists, establishes goals and standards for performance appraisals.
  • Designs, establishes and maintains an organizational structure and staffing model to accomplish AMHS goals and objectives in an effective manner; recruits, trains, coaches and evaluates all staff members.
• Organizational Management
  • Develops, implements and manages efficient and effective operational policies, processes and best practices with coding functions of the revenue cycle across AMHS, which include denials management, coding productivity and quality standards, and open encounter management.
  • Provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for standardization across AMHS professional coding operations.
  • Safeguards all department activities across AMHS professional coding operations are performed in a consistent manner, following standardized policies and procedures pursuant with all regulatory standards, including CMS, JCAHO, coding guidelines.
  • Monitor data to assure AMHS professional coding departmental KPIs are being met. Operates with a mindset of continual process improvement, adjusting KPIs as needed.
  • Ensures the highest quality of departmental operations, using a philosophy of quality management that supports continuous improvement and a team approach to problem-solving
  • Development of an AMHS integrated LEAN Organizational Structure that supports the collective Coding needs of all constituents.
• Leadership
  • Promotes and coordinates a continuous learning environment, employee engagement and motivation, employee retention and recruitment, skill development, and productivity among staff and management.
  • Manages direct reports and has responsibility for hiring, firing, disciplinary action and performance management.
  • Builds effective relationships and communicates clearly.
  • Continued development and mentoring of new managers by providing development tools, activities and practical suggestions.
• Hospital-wide Leadership
  • Analyzes and establishes plans to ensure that AMHS professional coding services are progressive and effective; work with other hospital and system service departments to promote consistency in processes.
  • Maintains a supportive and positive working relationship with AMHS medical staff and management; serves as an internal consultant throughout all organizations on coding related issues.
  • Continual collaboration with Patient Billing Services, Patient Access, Corporate Compliance and other departments across AMHS as it relates to coding, coding edits and denials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in health information management or related field - required
• Master's Degree in health information management or related field - preferred
• 10+ years' experience in medical coding using ICD, CPT and evaluation and management coding - required
• Five+ years' experience in a progressive management capacity - required
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, excellent presentation, planning and organizational skills, a problem solver with an understanding of systems design, procedure development and team building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the staff and customers.
• Ability to communicate with professional healthcare providers.
• Demonstrates expertise in coding quality.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of the revenue cycle in its entirety.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-growth, fast paced environment.
• RHIT - Registered Health Information Technician Upon Hire, or RHIA - Registered Health Information Administrator with CCS-Certified Coding Specialist Upon Hire or Certified Coder-AHIMA or AAPC CPC- Certified Professional Coder Upon Hire - required

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Physical Demands

• Standing - Occasionally
• Walking - Occasionally
• Sitting - Constantly
• Lifting - Rarely
• Carrying - Rarely
• Pushing - Rarely
• Pulling - Rarely
• Climbing - Rarely
• Balancing - Rarely
• Stooping - Rarely
• Kneeling - Rarely
• Crouching - Rarely
• Crawling - Rarely
• Reaching - Rarely
• Handling - Occasionally
• Grasping - Occasionally
• Feeling - Rarely
• Talking - Constantly
• Hearing - Constantly
• Repetitive Motions - Frequently
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination - Frequently

Working Conditions

• Extreme cold - Rarely
• Extreme heat - Rarely
• Humidity - Rarely
• Wet - Rarely
• Noise - Occasionally
• Hazards - Rarely
• Temperature Change - Rarely
• Atmospheric Conditions - Rarely
• Vibration - Rarely

Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!​

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a "need to know" and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.