HIM Specialist

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the #1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth for the sixth consecutive year, we invite you to continue your healthcare career with us at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. You'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for learning and advancement into leadership roles

UT Southwestern is honored to be a Veteran Friendly work environment that is home to approximately 800 veterans. We value your integrity, dedication, and the commitment you've made to our country. We're proud to support your next mission.

UT Southwestern offers a robust benefits package including 13 holidays (including 2 floating holidays) for the 2023-2034 fiscal year. Full time employees participate in the Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and are able to join additional voluntary retirement programs. We have various community discounts, wellness programs and more to learn about the benefits UT Southwestern offers visit utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

Experience and Education

High school diploma or equivalent and one (1) year health care experience required. Proof of completed vocational certificate or degree which also supports the domain of the HIM field is required,

OR

High school diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of health care experience, business, and/or HIM experience in lieu of vocational certificate.

Additional education in HIM, Business or related field which supports the domain of the HIM field may be considered in lieu of experience.

Job Duties

Record Management Functions

• Performs various detailed and technical tasks to input and/or retrieve /release patient information while ensuring patient health information is complete, accurate, timely, and compliant.
• Verifies updates, maintains, and retrieves patient health information in paper and/or electronic format for authorized personnel.
• Protects the privacy and security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.

EMPI Functions

• Monitors data integrity, researches/merges duplicate medical records, and identify/correct patient overlays according to established protocols.
• Performs patient name and/or demographic changes and follow the "Marking Patients Deceased" processes as appropriate.

Scanning Functions

• Prepares, scans, and indexes protected patient health information documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Follows strict quality measures of documents scanned into the electronic medical record.

ROI Functions

• Timely correspond to requests for release of protected patient health information by receipt via walk-in, telephone, written, and referral while ensuring the appropriate information is released.
• Executes the timely and accurate uploading and burning of external CDs/DVDs and/or printing and digitizing of films upon request
• Performs various radiology film library functions upon request including calling and corresponding with patients and other department staff via in-person, telephone, email or fax.
• Reviews patient health information, process requests (in paper and/or electronic format) for medical records, and coordinate the release of other types of records that comply with organizational and departmental standards, along with HIPAA regulations.
• Answer and handle inbound calls according to department standards while providing outstanding customer service.
• Documents and routes customer communications appropriately.
• Triage and problem solve basic concerns utilizing department procedures to meet and exceed customer's needs.

Transcription Functions (Referral Letters)

• Monitors and processes Referral Letters in the EPIC letter queue.
• Ensures all notes are attached to letters.
• Reviews Communication Manager for CC's to be sent.
• Reviews EPIC Phonebook to verify/update/create new letter recipients.
• Works RightFax for any failed faxes.
• Mails referral letters and notes to recipients marked in EPIC phonebook with preferred communication method of Mail.
• Reassigns referral letters back to clinic if issues arise needing the clinic's input.
• Keeps track of daily/monthly production totals to ensure baseline production requirements are met on a monthly basis.
• Ensures quality standards are met by meeting quality guidelines on a monthly basis.

Inpatient Functions

• Re-analyzes medical records for completeness and applies deficiencies as needed.
• Responsible for coordinating the weekly suspension process,
• Responsible for coordinating the daily operative scheduling suspension process.
• Reports Performance Improvement audit results to all designated staff.
• Is responsible for prep and analysis for discharged patients.

General Functions

• Cultivates a shared vision for the department that is consistent with the UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) vision and strategic initiatives by upholding the departmental Specialist expectations, customer service, professionalism, standards, processes, and other departmental strategies.
• Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Work requires strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Work requires excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Work requires organizational skills along with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Work requires computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office and/or various software applications.
• Work requires ability to report and problem solve using discretion, judgment, and professionalism.
• Work requires ability to handle multiple tasks, show initiative, and adjust to changes as appropriate under a stressful environment.
• Work requires ability to perform in a conservative, fast-paced, and quality driven environment.
• Work requires ability to comprehend, understand, and follow established policies, procedures, and other guidelines of some complexity.
• Work requires self-motivation, maturity, and being a team player.

Working Conditions

Work is performed mostly in office environment.

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code •51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.