Medical Coder

Medical Coder

Under the direction of our Medical Coding Supervisor, the primary responsibility of the Medical Coder is to accurately apply codes to eCRF forms requiring MedDRA or drug coding and assist in data reviews of clinical trials. This entails various duties and responsibilities as outlined below. Although, the Medical Coder should be trained and aware of the process for each of these duties, each Medical Coder may specialize in one or two areas for the majority of his/her daily workflow. The various levels (I, II, and III) of a Medical Coder are characterized in Appendix I – Medical Coder Designation Table.

Major duties and responsibilities:

• MedDRA Coding
  • The Medical Coder is to accurately and consistently apply MedDRA codes to adverse events experienced by study participants on protocols. It is the responsibility of the Medical Coder to ensure that the data is complete and assign the most appropriate MedDRA code to each event. Data designated for MedDRA code assignment include diagnoses, sign/symptoms, laboratory test results, death descriptions, and serious adverse events.
• WHO Drug Coding
  • The Medical Coder is to accurately and consistently apply WHO Drug codes to reported medications used by study participants on protocols.
• Code vs. Text Analysis
  • Code vs. text analysis is part of a study's QA/QC Review and Report Plan, which includes details about the QA checks that will take place. Medical Coders are responsible for code vs. text analysis of diagnoses, signs/symptoms, and death descriptions.
• Coding in the Central Coding Utility
  • The Central Coding Utility is a program used by Medical Coders to apply sign/symptom codes and Appendix 3 drug codes to eCRF forms for studies not using the WHO Drug Dictionary.
• Analysis and Coding Resources
  • While performing code vs. text review and MedDRA coding, the Medical Coder should be familiar with the following tools and utilities.
  • MedDRA Term Selection Guidelines
  • Query Guidelines for Medical Coders
  • Dorland's Electronic Medical Dictionary
  • Stedman's Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols
  • MedDRA Browser
  • Anatomy and Physiology textbooks
  • Nursing Practice textbooks
  • Medical Dictionaries
  • Queries
    • Medical Coders notify sites of potential data errors or inconsistencies, and/or to request additional or missing data from sites.

Reports to: Medical Coding Supervisor

Controls over position: The Medical Coder performs primary tasks at the direction of the Medical Coding Supervisor. The Medical Coder ensures that duties are executed in compliance with applicable SOPs, Manuals and work instructions.

Required qualifications:

• Medical Coding Certification Required: a minimum of a CPC-A Medical Coding Certification through the AAPC or a RHIT Health Information Management Certification through AHIMA.
• Familiarity of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology
• Familiarity with the MedDRA dictionary and WHO Drug dictionaryAbility to learn new coding mechanisms and dictionaries, including drug coding
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Resourceful, positive and professional demeanor
• The ability to build effective relationships and work with people from diverse backgrounds, work independently, multi-task, adapt to changing priorities, perform job duties with minimal guidance, and meet deadlines
• Willingness to learn new computer programs

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.