Outpatient Coding 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 to support the 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 that oversees same-day surgeries, observation, the emergency department, and simple visit coding.

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

  

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

70

Y

• 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

Y

• 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

Y

• 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%

 (To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

RE