Covenant Health

Health Information Management Supervisor

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Covenant Health Overview:

Covenant Health is the region’s top-performing healthcare network with 10 hospitals, outpatient and specialty services, and Covenant Medical Group, our area’s fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes “Best Employer” seven times. 

Position Summary: 

Responsible for the daily supervision of the Health Information Management department. Develops and maintains good working relationships with physicians, clinical and business staff. Monitors the following on a daily basis to ensure facilities’ goals are met and to prevent delays that affect financial performance: a.) days in accounts receivable for lack of diagnosis and b.) unbilled accounts due to a lack of diagnosis. Monitors to ensure transcription, coding, release of information, and HIM clerical activities are carried out appropriately. Monitors case mix for accuracy and trending information. Coordinates and assures compliance with professional coding application and data collection. Facilitates and coordinates education of HIM staff in the areas of coding, documentation, case mix, and denials. Ensures that auditing and monitoring in accordance with the Covenant Health Coding Compliance Plan is performed. Works with facility leadership to achieve departmental and system goals and objectives. Effectively communicates with the physicians, clinicians, and support staff concerning HIM issues.

• Performs supervisory activities for HIM employees including making recommendations about hiring, disciplinary action, payroll/scheduling, and annual performance evaluations and conferences.
• Oversees the daily operations as it relates to medical records, coding, transcription, physician record completion/suspension process, etc.
• Maintains established departmental and system policies and procedures and implements new policies and procedures as needed. Provides input into the development of the annual departmental goals and objectives.
• Maintains departmental quality and productivity standards and makes necessary adjustments to ensure established goals are met, including areas of unbilled accounts, transcription and delinquent records, and the physician suspension process.
• Ensures the department has adequate supplies, equipment, and personnel to meet operational needs.
• Provides education to HIM staff and physicians in response to regulatory changes and identified areas of deficiency.
• Attends meetings and provides input as it relates to coding, medical documentation, and reimbursement issues specific to medical billing and regulatory requirements.
• Increases awareness of compliance as it relates to coding and documentation. Keeps current on coding guidelines and communicates to leadership; implements corrective actions as indicated to minimize financial risk.
• Increases understanding of DRGs and reimbursement. Educates staff to proper documentation necessary to support a DRG/coding/billing. Reviews records to verify the correct codes have been assigned.
• Assists with all insurance requested audits and provides information to leadership related to inaccurate and/or missing documentation.
• Works with Revenue Cycle team and deals with physician specific issues as it impacts denials. Analyzes denials and coordinates appeals. Ensures corrective action is taken to prevent denials from reoccurring.
• Assures the HIM department maintains patient confidentiality and follows all policies and procedures related to release of medical information.
• Serves as central contact and liaison for the dictation and transcription systems utilized by the HIM department. Ensures physician dictation numbers are properly activated in the dictation and transcription systems. Trains physicians on use of dictation/transcription system.
• Ensures that Joint Commission, CMS, Federal, State, Medical Staff, and other requirements relative to HIM are monitored and reported, such as monthly delinquent record count and quarterly clinical pertinence reviews.
• Attends meetings as required. Participates on and/or leads teams and/or committees as required. Serves as committee member on various committees. Records and distributes meeting minutes as required.
• Conducts periodic assessments of staff compliance with privacy policies and procedures, and makes leadership aware of known or potential problems that must be addressed.
• Cooperates with State and Federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Civil Rights, in compliance reviews or investigations.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:           

RHIT preferred; will accept any combination of formal education and/or possession of the knowledge, skill, and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED with appropriate, relevant work experience. Preference may be given to individuals possessing an Associate’s degree or higher in a healthcare associated field from an accredited college or university.

Minimum Experience:         

Relevant work with health systems either in acute care or outpatient settings. Effective interpersonal skills in order to interact effectively with all levels of personnel. Organization and prioritization skills. Effective written and verbal communications skills. Analytical skills. Proficient computer skills.

Licensure Requirement:      

Preference given to the following: Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or Associate of Health Sciences. Can be exchanged for years of experience in a Health Information Management setting.