DIRECTOR/HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & CODING

• Expected pay for this position is $43.84 - $65.76. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity.
• MDH Benefits package includes:
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 457B and employer match for FT Employees
• Company paid STD and LTD
• Job Summary
• The Director of Health Information Management & Coding provides onsite leadership for the accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, accessibility, and compliant use of patient health information throughout McDonough District Hospital (MDH). The Director oversees core HIM and coding operations; promotes complete clinical documentation and accurate facility coding; and works closely with Revenue Cycle, clinical leaders, medical staff, Compliance, Finance, and Information Systems to support timely claims, appropriate reimbursement, regulatory readiness, and quality patient care. The position is accountable for operational outcomes, staff development, measurable process improvement, and responsible vendor management within its assigned scope.
• Job Specifications
• EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required Qualifications

• Active, nationally recognized professional medical coding certification from AHIMA or AAPC (examples: CCS, CPC, COC, CIC, CCS-P, or comparable credential approved by MDH). A course-completion certificate alone does not satisfy this requirement.
• Associate degree in Health Information Management, healthcare administration, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant leadership experience.
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in hospital HIM and/or facility coding, with demonstrated understanding of both hospital coding and medical-record operations.
• At least three (3) years of supervisory, management, or comparable team-lead experience with accountability for workflow and staff performance.
• Working knowledge of inpatient/outpatient coding, reimbursement principles, documentation integrity, health-information privacy, record retention, and hospital regulatory requirements.
• Ability to analyze operational data, coach multidisciplinary teams, communicate with medical staff, and lead accountable process improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential; RHIT also valued. An RHIA or RHIT credential does not replace the separate required coding certification.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in HIM, healthcare administration, health informatics, or a related discipline.
• CCS certification and direct experience overseeing hospital facility coding quality and audit programs.
• Experience with Cerner/Oracle CommunityWorks, DNFB improvement, coding denial reduction, outsourced-coding transition or performance management, and clinical documentation integrity initiatives.
• Additional certifications such as CDIP, CHPS, or CHC where aligned with assigned duties.

Measures of Success

Performance will be assessed using role-appropriate indicators including coding accuracy and timeliness; HIM/coding-related DNFB; documentation completion; preventable coding-related denials; coding productivity; audit remediation; record-release performance; regulatory compliance; employee engagement and retention; vendor cost and quality; and completion of agreed improvement goals. Baselines and targets will be established with leadership.

• ABILITIES, INTERESTS AND TEMPERAMENTS:
• Understanding and ability to use word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Visual acuity required to adequately access, read, understand, prepare, and present written and on-line material.
• Sound interpersonal, organizational, decision-making, problem solving, and customer service skills necessary to respond and satisfy customers exhibiting high stress behaviors is required.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely with all members of the department and hospital, accurately transmitting and receiving on-line, verbal and telephone communications.
• Ability to remain calm and courteous while working in stressful situations.
• A preference for working in and organizing activities that are carried out in relation to established processes and techniques.
• Clerical perception is needed to prevent errors in procedures, reports, and record keeping.
• Ability to perform duties and handle information which requires discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop the skills of the Health Information Management personnel.
• Ability to work under pressure and in conditions of frequent interruption.
• Considerable initiative and judgment involved in collecting and analyzing record data.
• Must have the ability to work with a variety of patients of all populations (e.g. developmentally appropriate care, cultural diversity, patients with pain, victims of abuse or neglect, and diagnosis or procedure specific such as patient with congestive heart failure or cesarean delivery).