Medical Coding Specialist – Orthopedic (remote state of WI) | Sauk Prairie Healthcare

Job title: Medical Coding Specialist – Orthopedic (remote state of WI)

Company: Sauk Prairie Healthcare

Job description: Job Description:POSITION SPECIFICSTitle: Medical Coding Specialist – OrthopedicFTE: 1.0 (40 hours per week)Location: Remote position (must be located in Wisconsin)Schedule: Monday to Friday flexible hours (must have some core business hours each day)Holiday Rotation: NoneWeekend Rotation: NoneOn Call Requirements: NonePOSITION SUMMARYReviews medical documentation for complex surgical and inpatient services. Applies appropriate procedural and diagnostic codes to patient records for claims processing, data retrieval and analysis. This role will focus on coding for orthopedic surgical coding. Join a cross-functional team with opportunity to grow and expand into other surgical and inpatient areas.POSITION TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIESDocumentation and Coding * Review medical record documentation to assign accurate diagnosis and procedure coding from the International Classification of Disease (ICD) and assignment of Diagnosis Related Group (DRG’s) and/or Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC’s) for complex surgical and inpatient cases.

Sequence codes accurately based on medical record documentation and regulatory guidance.
Assign appropriate discharge disposition and present on admission (POA) value for inpatient diagnoses.
Understand and apply medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, surgical technology, pharmacology, and disease processes.
Clarify physician documentation by utilizing facility established query process when code assignments are not straightforward or documentation in the record is inadequate, ambiguous, or unclear for coding purposes.
Assist Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) staff in identifying and clarifying missing, conflicting, or nonspecific clinician documentation related to diagnoses and procedures to reflect quality and outcome measures, as well as ensure the authenticity, integrity, and accuracy of the documentation.
Identify and communicate documentation improvement opportunities with physicians, department directors, and coworkers.
As assigned, investigate denied inpatient/surgical claim and assist with appeal.
Assist in training new employees and coworkers. As needed, assist with clinical coding audits and identifies specific areas for bill screening and auditing.
Codes outpatient accounts as needed, based on organizational demand.
Attends continuing education programs and reviews other educational resources to keep current on any changes pertaining to this position and for coding re-certification.
Assists with developing policies and procedures related to Coding, CDI and as related to documentation integrity of the Legal Health Record.

Database reporting and coding information system management * Evaluate data collection requests and determines efficient methods of data collection which ensure data integrity. Creates reports and submits data to external agencies from the medical information database as requested.

Ensure accuracy of the medical information database by establishing policies and procedures to protect and improve data integrity.
Provide help desk support for coding and clerical staff on computer systems. Maintains computer system dictionaries and performs modifications and upgrades. Communicates with Meditech on issues related to abstracting, medical information, and the Master Patient Index.
Monitor Meditech communication and tasks to identify work improvement opportunities.
Maintain computer system dictionaries and performs modifications and upgrades. Communicates with Meditech on issues related to abstracting, medical information and the Master Patient Index. Maintain encoder software upgrades and works with technical support.
Manage the medical information database to meet internal and external requester needs. Ensures medical information is accessible for patient care, reviews, and other purposes.

Perform other related work as assigned.POSITION REQUIREMENTSEducation:

Required: Successful completion of a professional American Health Information Management (AHIMA) or American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) recognized coding course and/or an Associate degree in a healthcare related program.
Preferred: Associates degree in a healthcare related program

Experience:

Required: Minimum 3 years orthopedic coding
Preferred: Five or more years orthopedic coding

Licenses and Registrations:

Required: None
Preferred: None

Certification(s):

Required: Must obtain credentials through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) in any of the following certifications within six months of date of hire and maintain such credential thereafter:
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Administrator (RHIA)
Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
Certified Procedural Coder – Hospital (CPC-H)
Certified Procedural Coder (CPC)
Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)