Inpatient Coder/Abstractor Sr - Health Information Management

Job Summary: The Senior Inpatient Coder is responsible for accurately assigning diagnosis and procedure codes to inpatient discharges at the larger McLeod Health facilities representing more complex medical/surgical encounters.

1. Keeps abreast of all new coding developments by attending any coding classes, reading articles on coding updates, and attending seminars when available.

2. Possess inpatient coding knowledge and experience necessary to accurately assign codes to determine correct principal diagnosis, identify and assign co-morbidities and complications, secondary diagnoses, present on admission indicator, discharge disposition, Hospital Acquired conditions, principal procedure, and secondary procedures on all discharged inpatient records to arrive at the most appropriate DRG assignment.  

3. Understands coding guidelines to accurately apply coding principles to encounters with longer lengths of stay, complex medical diagnoses and extensive surgical procedures.  This includes cardiac, neurosurgery, orthopedic, pediatric, trauma, and vascular.

4. Queries physicians appropriately when documentation is not clear in the medical record.

5. Works closely with the Clinical Documentation Specialists to assure the most optimal DRG is assigned.

6. Maintains department specific productivity standards with a 95% accuracy rate.

7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 80 Hours bi-weekly

Qualifications:

• 1 to 2 years of inpatient coding in an acute care hospital setting.

Requirements:
  Licenses and Certifications:
    AHIMA Registered Health Information Technician
  Memberships:
    Occupation Risk Assessment