JOB SUMMARY
The Health Information Management Specialist is responsible for assisting with the daily functions involving the collection, processing, maintenance, disclosure and transportation of protected patient health information via paper and/or electronic format in a manner that complies with organizational, departmental, and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the HIM Specialist participates as an essential member of the Health Information Management Department by ensuring that an individual’s health data and information is accurate, complete, accessible, confidential and secure.

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.

• Education
  High School Diploma or equivalent and
  Proof of completed vocational certificate or degree which also supports the domain of the HIM field is required, and

• Experience
  1 year of health care experience. or
  2 years of Health Care experience, business and/or HIM experience in lieu of vocational certificate. or
  Additional education in HIM, Business or related field which supports the domain of the HIM field may be considered in lieu of experience
• Birth Certificate and Birth Registrar experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Work requires ability to comprehend, understand, and follow established policies, procedures, and other guidelines of some complexity.
• 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 report and problem solve using discretion, judgment, and professionalism.
• Work requires computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office and/or various software applications.
• 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 self-motivation, maturity, and being a team player.
• Work requires strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Physical Demands
  Repetitive Motions
  Talking

• Working Conditions
  Office Setting

The following is the acronym, “PACT”, and is fundamental to all non-clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center:
• P-Problem Solving: Employees take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently, and to the satisfaction of customers, or managers. They show initiative in addressing areas of concern before they become problems.
• A-Ability, Attitude and Accountability: Employees exhibit ability to perform their job and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner reflecting a professional environment readily assuming obligations in a dependable and reliable manner.
• C-Communication, Contribution, and Collaboration: Who are our Customers? Anyone who requests our help, needs our work product, or receives our services. Employees focus on customer service with creative solutions while improving the customer experience through clear, courteous, and timely delivery and communication. Sharing ideas with others helps expand our contribution to department goals.
• T-Teamwork: Employees work to contribute to the department’s success by supporting co-workers, promoting excellence in work product and customer service, and in maintaining a satisfying, caring environment for each other.

Salary
Salary Negotiable

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.