Associate Director, Privacy & Release of Information

Job Description

Align yourself with an organization that has a reputation for excellence. Cedars-Sinai was awarded the National Research Corporation's Consumer Choice Award 19 years in a row for providing the highest-quality medical care in Los Angeles. We were also awarded the Advisory Board Company's Workplace of the Year! We offer an outstanding benefits' package, including healthcare, paid time off and a 403(b). Join us! Discover why U.S. News & World Report has named us one of America's Best Hospitals.

What you will be doing in this role:

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Information Governance and Privacy, the Associate Director of Information Governance and Privacy supports the operational, financial, programmatic, and workforce activities associated with the capture, review, retention, disclosure, protection, and management of health information across the multi-facility integrated health care system. The Associate Director implements departmental goals and priorities, monitors performance against established objectives, and supports alignment with the strategic goals of Cedars-Sinai Health System.

The Associate Director is accountable for operational execution, performance management, and team leadership for assigned Information Governance and Privacy functions, with primary emphasis on Release of Information (ROI) and Privacy. The position collaborates with leaders across the Medical Staff Office, Enterprise Information Systems, Compliance, Revenue Cycle, clinical and operational departments, providers, and pillar leadership to promote complete, accurate, secure, appropriately accessible, and properly maintained health information.

In partnership with the Executive Director, the Associate Director operationalizes strategic priorities related to Information Governance. The Associate Director serves as a subject matter expert in assigned areas; identifies and addresses risks associated with inappropriate access or disclosure; and leads initiatives to improve compliance, quality, service, efficiency, and operational performance:

Provides operational leadership and subject matter expertise for ROI operations, including patient, legal, insurance, government, continuity-of-care, audit, and other authorized requests for health information.

• Oversees the intake, validation, processing, fulfillment, documentation, and quality review of requests for health information.
• Evaluates complex or sensitive disclosure requests and provides guidance regarding authorizations, patient access, legal authority, minimum necessary requirements, and appropriate disclosure of protected health information.
• Establishes and monitors controls designed to prevent unauthorized, inappropriate, incomplete, or excessive disclosure of health information.
• Partners with Privacy, Compliance, Legal, Information Security, Health Information Management, clinical departments, and other partners to resolve complex disclosure and privacy matters.
• Supports the investigation, documentation, mitigation, and corrective action of potential privacy incidents, inappropriate access, and misdirected disclosures.
• Develops, implements, and maintains policies, procedures, job aids, standard work, and quality controls governing assigned Information Governance, ROI, and Privacy activities.
• Monitors operational performance through key performance indicators, including request volume, turnaround time, backlog, productivity, quality, error rates, aging, and service levels.
• Analyzes workload trends, seasonal and intra-month patterns, staffing requirements, and workflow capacity to optimize resource allocation and operational performance.
• Identifies and leads opportunities for workflow redesign, standardization, automation, and technology optimization while maintaining appropriate privacy and disclosure controls.
• Leads quality assurance and auditing activities to identify trends, root causes, control weaknesses, and opportunities for corrective and preventive action.
• Manages, coaches, and develops assigned staff; establishes performance expectations; and promotes accountability, consistency, engagement, and professional development.
• Defines job responsibilities and competencies and participates in the recruitment, selection, and development of assigned staff and leadership positions.
• Provides education and consultation to workforce members and other collaborators regarding appropriate access, use, and disclosure of health information as it relates to ROI and privacy.
• Supports organizational readiness for regulatory reviews, audits, investigations, and other compliance activities involving health information access, privacy, and disclosure.
• Maintains a comprehensive understanding of the operational, regulatory, and technology components of assigned functions and their interdependencies across the health system.
• Supports development and management of the Information Governance operating budget as assigned and contributes to organizational financial goals through effective resource and expenditure management.
• Prepares executive-level reports and presentations for senior leadership highlighting operational trends, risks, opportunities, performance gaps, and improvement initiatives.
• Maintains current knowledge of emerging industry trends, regulatory developments, technology advancements, and academic health system challenges affecting Information Governance, ROI, and Privacy operations.

Qualifications

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in health information management, healthcare administration, health informatics, business administration, or a related clinical or non-clinical field required. Master's degree preferred.

Minimum of five years of progressive management or supervisory experience in Health Information Management, Information Governance, Release of Information, Privacy, healthcare compliance, or a related healthcare operational function required.

Demonstrated knowledge of health information management, release of information, privacy, confidentiality, and health information disclosure requirements sought.

Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing operational performance, and implementing process improvement initiatives in a complex healthcare environment sought.

Strong analytical, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills sought.

Why work here?

Our accomplished and compassionate staff reflects the culturally and ethnically diverse community we serve. They are proof of our dedication to creating a dynamic, inclusive environment that fuels innovation.