Coding Education Assistant Director

Typically manages multiple or all units in the health information management department. Ensures operations are in place for retention and security of patient care information. Interfaces with departments from across the organization such as clinical, research, legal and reimbursement.

Under the direction of UCSF HIMS Leadership and in partnership with the Clinical Documentation Integrity program and related Apex Programs, this position is accountable for driving the implementation of the organizational best practices at UCSF HIMS Health to achieve optimum overall performance. 

This position is accountable for driving strategic and value programs within UCSF Health HIMS to support a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and high-value patient care. This position is responsible for overseeing projects and process improvement initiatives at each of the HIMS locations.

Ensures operations are in place for retention and security of patient care information. Interfaces with departments across UCSF and BCHO including clinical, research, legal and reimbursement.

Department Overview 

The Health Information Management and Coding department is a dynamic group of individuals, working towards a common goal of excellence.  UCSF has a robust outpatient coding department which oversees same day surgeries, observation, emergency department, and simple visit coding.

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

70

• Directs all outpatient coding operations across multiple coding specialties, including surgery, ancillary, emergency department, and HCC coding. 
• Sets annual strategy and goals for the outpatient coding staff, identifying key priorities, increase revenue opportunities, educational needs, and DNB expectations.
• Establishes departmental goals, performance standards, and strategic priorities for outpatient coding services. 
• Leads the outpatient coding compliance program, including RAC audit response, coding quality initiatives, and regulatory readiness activities. 
• Serves as a member of the Coding senior leadership team and participates in departmental strategic planning and operational decision-making. 
• Develops and implements coding policies, procedures, and operational standards impacting coding operations across UCSF Health. 
• Provides leadership for major coding transformation initiatives, workflow redesign, and organizational performance improvement efforts.
• Establishes processes, metrics and monitoring systems to maximize reimbursement.  Provides recommendations and corrective action as appropriate.
• Ensures implementation of all health information and coding policies; establishes and revises procedures as needed. Researches best practices to maintain currency with industry trends.
• Ensures timely follow up on aging accounts, answers coding questions, trends findings and works with other departments to address ongoing issues.

15

• Applies proven human resource management skills in staff selection, development, and evaluation. 
• Fosters a strong culture of teamwork and quality customer service to all constituencies to ensure the quality of daily revenue cycle operations, effective interdepartmental collaborations, and the timely achievement of objectives.
• Recommends changes in staffing, performs recruiting and onboarding, verifies new hires meet standards. Updates position descriptions. Conducts performance evaluations and defines development goals.

15

• Collaborates with leadership from business units across the medical center (decision support, reimbursement, billing, medical records, clinical units, etc.), to propose new or revised standardization of criteria and measurements, improve workflows, coordinate activities, and resolve issues. 
• Partners with information technology on enhancements and new systems for efficient billing, AR and patient accounting processes.
• Partners with Compliance to implement RAC audit findings, establish corrective actions, provide coder education.

100%

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• 5+ years in a health information management or coding management position
• Certification: CCS, CIC, or CCS-P coding certification for AHIMA or AAPC
• Strong knowledge of healthcare coding,  revenue cycle operations, concepts, and policies and their impact throughout the organization, with an in-depth understanding of related functions and issues, including ICD-10-CM, CPT 4 and HCPCS coding, billing, reimbursements, and charge capture.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to organize, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and delegate assignments efficiently.
• Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, with the ability to create and maintain a goal-oriented climate of teamwork and cooperation across departments for effective problem solving, conflict resolution, support for organizational values, and consistent achievement of targets and objectives
• Strong critical-thinking, project-management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret complex data and systems, to quickly identify problems and implement solutions.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills to prepare and present reports and convey complex information and instructions in a clear, concise, and specific manner. Ability to cultivate a strong commitment to quality, teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, and achievement of objectives.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified in Infection Control (CIC), or Certified Coding Specialist – Physician (CCS-P) coding certification for AHIMA or AAPC

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree in health information management
• Ability to work effectively with leadership on establishing operational goals and providing for technological upgrades, tools and systems to maximize revenues.
• Strong knowledge of metrics, analytics, and data synthesis in healthcare revenue cycle management and their use to identify trends, produce reliable forecasts and projections, and create reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Strong knowledge of all relevant of all relevant information technology, including systems, tools, applications, processes, and methodologies.
• RHIA, RHIT certification from AHIMA