Senior Clinical Coder

Job overview

Senior Accredited Clinical Coder – Band 5 with 15% R&R Payment

The Trust is seeking to appoint an Accredited Clinical Coder who has held the national award for at least 2 years.

This is an exciting opportunity for an Accredited Clinical Coder to develop their skills.   The post holder will assist the Clinical Coding Manager in the continuing development of an improved communication system between the coding department and clinicians, and to ensure that complete and high-quality clinical coding is delivered within the timescales.

The successful applicant will have a methodical and accurate approach to work, with good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to prioritise their own workload and achieve strict deadlines.

The applicant will be required to support both the Clinical Coding Manager and Deputy Clinical Coding Manager in the maintenance of coding processes and procedures and a comprehensive training programme for the coding team.

The Trust promotes Agile Working, therefore with the agreement of the manager there will be an opportunity to work from home at times.

Essential requirements:

ACC Clinical Coding Qualification.

Minimum of 4-5 years Clinical Coding experience which must include an established knowledge and understanding of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and national coding classifications.

Understanding and knowledge of the clinical coding process and how it affects financial reimbursement and the National Tariff Payment System.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Accredited Clinical Coder will work within the Clinical Coding team to abstract, analyse and translate complex clinical diagnosis and treatment information into nationally recognised codes, and enter the data into the appropriate Trust system to meet essential Trust requirements for statutory information and financial reporting.  The post holder will act as lead contact for designated clinical specialties, communicating with medical staff on complex coding queries relating to diagnoses and operative procedures.

The successful candidate will be required to hold the National Clinical Coding Qualification in order to effectively deliver these responsibilities.  Detailed knowledge of current Health Resource Grouping will also be required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work on own initiative to abstract and analyse complex clinical information from patient records including test results, discharge summaries, theatre notes and other information which may be stored locally within a specialty (e.g., ICR, Badger, Management System, PACS, ICE). Translate this information into a coded format in line with National Standards and Trust policies and procedures with a high degree of accuracy.

To enter the final encoded data onto the appropriate computer systems to meet essential Trust requirements for statutory information and financial reporting, ensuring Trust income is correct. This will require extended periods of concentration, and prolonged VDU use.

To provide coding cover in periods of absence on all specialties, maintaining a high level of accuracy whilst doing so.

To act as lead contact with designated specialties and communicate complex issues with medical staff on coding queries relating to diagnoses and operative procedures, using persuasive skills where necessary, in order to ensure accuracy and consistency of information.

Be a mentor for Clinical Coders, providing support, motivation, guidance, and training through coaching for that individual on all aspects of the role.

Work with the Clinical Coding Team Leaders to develop and implement training plans for Trainee Clinical Coders.

Organise daily workload efficiently so that personal coding targets are met and support the rest of the coding team in achieving high standards of coding completeness and accuracy within agreed time scales.

In the absence of the Coding Managers, ensure all work is distributed across the team, and organised evenly covering all coding duties, and supervise the work of more junior colleagues?

Participate in the maintenance of departmental records of local and national coding policies/standards in order to ensure consistency and accuracy throughout the department. Assist in development of local coding policies and implementing local variations to coding rules.

Participate in the audit process, working closely with the Deputy Manager and Manager. Ensure audits take into account both national and local coding policies and rules and take into account varying factors such as quality and availability of documentation at the time of Coding. To review audit reports provided by an external company on potential coding issues and identify why these were not pick up when originally coded. Document the audit findings.

Implement all actions resulting from audit recommendations. Feedback findings of audits to the Manager and share lessons learnt with colleagues.

Assist in the implementation of new initiatives affecting clinical coding and participate in planning of changes to work practice.

Promote a learning environment in the workplace and take responsibility for self - development. Support others in achieving the ACC qualification.

Participate in ongoing formal training in accordance with national standards and Trust requirements in order to update and maintain skills and knowledge.

Promote and improve awareness of clinical coding, communicating to clinical and management staff the complex rules of coding and its financial effects.

Keep up to date with national changes in coding conventions and changes in medical terminology.

To monitor stock levels within the department and to place orders as required and in the absence of the department manager.