Senior Clinical Coder

Job overview

Clinical Coding has a crucial role in the management of the hospital for contractual/billing purposes, due to the implementation of Payment by Results and is a source of healthcare data for the Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

The post holder is responsible for providing high quality and timely coded clinical data.  This requires the application of all coding rules and conventions pertaining to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, Version 10) and OPCS-4 (Classification of Interventions and Procedures), incorporating national standards as set down in the Clinical Coding Instruction Manual ICD-10, OPCS-4 and Coding Clinics

To be competent in coding all specialties across the organisation

The post holder must have taken the National Clinical Coding Qualification and hold accredited clinical coder status.

An additional 15% recruitment & retention premium applies

Main duties of the job

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is looking for Accredited Clinical Coder’s who are self-motivated and enthusiastic with excellent communication skills. You will need to have significant coding experience and sound knowledge in the use of patient information and coding systems used within the NHS and can deliver a high standard of coding completeness and accuracy in a timely manner.

The Trust has a flexible and remote working policy which is available upon request. In addition to this, upon completion of local induction and on the job training, the successful candidate will be offered the option of working from home if desired

You will need to;

• Exhibit excellent logical and analytical skills,
• Demonstrate sound judgement in translating often complex patient records.
• A good knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.
• Have experience of clinical coding a wide range of specialties in an acute setting.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsible for the abstraction, analysis and interpretation of complex and highly complex clinical information found within patient’s health records, use judgment and knowledge in assigning the correct codes when the information provided is conflicting.

Translate and assign the most accurate clinical codes for diagnosis, co-morbidities and procedures undertaken for all discharged and transferred patients.

Ensure strict adherence to procedures established for clinical coding as laid out by the classifications in use and take into account changes made to the classification should the need arise.

Participate in regular training sessions in order to develop and enhance coding speciality skills.

Update national classification books and manuals in line with national standards released by the NHS Classification Service.  For example Coding Clinics

Undertake bi-monthly audits of completed work with a Lead Auditor  to monitor and provide feedback on accuracy and completeness of coding, compliance with national standards, and the quality of information that is recorded in the health records to ensure that the Trusts correct percentage targets are routinely attained.

Demonstrate a high level of skills in the use of International Classification of Diseases, volume 10 (ICD-10) and the Classification of Interventions and Procedures, (OPCS-4).

Supervise and mentor trainee Clinical Coders in conjunction with the Coding Managers and/or Training Manager to bring them up to the required level of competence including the monitoring of incomplete episodes reports.

To be in the pool of senior coders who undertake the coding of deceased patients

Identify and report errors found on the Patient Administration System e.g. incorrect consultant designation.

Work with specialty divisions to support and maintain a professional and flexible coding service.

Ability to code all specialties at a high level of accuracy and to rotate as and when required, with appropriate support and training.

Provide specialist advice to clinical and non-clinical staff with regards to clinical coding.

To ensure that working processes are followed in own area of work and ensure and initiate service review when these processes are no longer effective providing suggestions for development when required and implementing agreed revisions.

Provide cover for absence of clinical coding staff, as required ensuring continuity of service provision