HIM Clinical Documentation Specialist

Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Entity: Corporate Services

Department: Documentation Improvement

Location: Lancaster General Hospital- 555 N Duke St./Remote

Hours: M-F, 8 hr days

Summary:

The Clinical Documentation Specialist will be responsible for supporting an organization-wide system for improving clinical documentation in the medical record by prompting physicians and other clinicians for complete and accurate documentation. The CD Specialist will utilize presentation, general instruction, and a compliant query discussion to instruct the clinical teams in appropriate documentation as suggested by CMS coding guidelines and to ensure that the clinical chart is the true and reflective document of the patient, their related prioritized diagnostic portrait, severity of illness, and treatment related. This position requires a strong clinical background, as the core responsibility is to interpret and validate the medical record clinically before reviewing it from a coding perspective. It takes advanced clinical judgment, organizational skills, and the ability to learn and apply coding and DRG structures. Strong language and negotiation skills are essential for documentation discussions.

Working under the leadership and moderate supervision of the Corporate Manager of Clinical Documentation and in close concert with both the clinical care teams and the Corporate HIM teams, the Clinical Documentation Specialist will educate and utilize compliant questions and tools toward a complete, reflective record. They will also analyze trends and offer direction to primary care staff w regard to changes in coding practices and noted trends noted in team documentation requiring clarity and/or specification to reflect truth in diagnostic reflection

Responsibilities:

• Direct review of patient charts to audit clarity and full reflection of severity in care team documentation w consideration of CMS coding guidelines

• Clinically interpret and validate diagnoses and treatment plans to ensure documentation reflects the patient's true condition and severity of illness

• Provide clinical care teams with ongoing education and training on current trends in documentation and coding

• Collaborate with the Corporate Manager of Clinical Documentation Improvement to develop/upkeep efficiencies/synergies within the Clinical Documentation department

• Enter clinical review data and related anticipated follow-up in EPIC PENN Chart to truthfully demonstrate current state discovered via chart review, discovery of qualities needing further provider clarification, abstraction of clinical indicators, and the assignment of Initial DRG and Working DRG

• Generate compliant queries and non-leading clinical conversation w regard to requesting further specification and/or diagnostic clarity and/or clinical diagnostic significance and severity

• Negotiate documentations improvements through compliant, clinically supported decisions

• Ensure that the concurrent inpatient clinical documentation accurately reflects severity of illness and intensity of service using the above noted compliant query system

• Ensure the present on admission (POA) status of clinical conditions/diagnoses are charted appropriately within defined regulatory timeframes

• Assign a working MS-DRG upon initial admission review, and communicate with Physician or designee requesting appropriate documentation

• Ongoing concurrent chart review, identification of complications and co-morbidities, collaboration with team regarding improving documentation

• Maintain strict HIPPA compliance and confidentiality in reference to all information reviewed and/or discussed

• Maintains responsibility for professional development by participating in workshops, conferences, and/or in-services and maintains appropriate records of participation

• Proficient in negotiating complex systems to effect positive change

• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures

• Ability to analyze complex clinical scenarios and apply critical thinking. Extensive knowledge of reimbursement systems

• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and payer-specific regulations and policies pertaining to documentation and coding

• Extensive knowledge of treatment methodology, patient care assessment, data collection techniques and coding classification systems is necessary

• Serve as a resource on DRG issues

• Serve as a clinical resource, applying medical expertise to guide documentation accuracy and integrity

• Performs duties in accordance with Penn Medicine and entity values, policies, and procedures

• Other duties as assigned to support the unit, department, entity, and health system organization

Credentials:

• RN, NP, or PA licensure is required.

• RHIA, RHIT, and CCS certifications are preferred.

• CCDS or CDIP is preferred.

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare field is required.

• 3+ years of healthcare experience is required.

• Master's degree is preferred.

• Clinical experience with knowledge of Medicare reimbursement system & coding structures is preferred.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.

REQNUMBER: 317040