At Houston Methodist, the Coding Educator position is responsible for developing coding education plans and training programs for new hires and current staff to enhance coding skills as well as to ensure compliance with regulations/guidelines. This position deploys the education plans and training programs to the staff by providing direct education to the staff via face-to-face classroom setting, remote web conferencing, and written resources. The Coding Educator will work jointly with applicable management to deploy the overall strategy for system-wide coding operations consistent with Houston Methodist strategic plans.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Establishes and maintains strong, effective working relationships with physicians, peers and healthcare professionals; effectively communicates with internal and external customers.

• Exhibits ability to adjust teaching methods to various learning styles.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides coding training and education sessions to coding staff based on needs identified due to coding audit results, regulatory changes, hospital policy changes or implementation of new technology or processes, including onboarding new staff as necessary or applicable.

• Works with the coding management team to establish a coding program and monitor the success of the coding program including assisting with student recruitment.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops instructional materials to include course plans, objectives, and evaluation tools.

• Assesses course effectiveness through student evaluations.

• Performs quality monitoring to assess comprehension of training efforts to assure that all required information is captured accurately.

• Performs/Leads performance improvement activities that support operational efficiencies, data integrity and service quality including measuring and improving quality outcomes including assisting with quality reviews of new staff as necessary and where applicable.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Under department leadership, assists with developing and maintaining an annual training program budget.

• Where applicable assists with pre-billed claim edits to ensure complaint coding, charting and billing.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Designs, implements, and monitors effective processes and systems within assigned areas of responsibility to achieve maximum efficiency and enhance productivity and customer satisfaction.

• Benchmarks for best practices.

• Strives to improve and enhance support to the Hospital and System and seeks opportunities to expand the scope of the Coding section.

• Develops continuous process improvements for the coding training needs of the System.

• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing demands.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Associate's degree or higher, concentration in health-related discipline or education

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Eight years of progressive coding and/or coding review (auditing) experience at a large facility or multi-facility

• Some professional teaching/training experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• For inpatient/outpatient coding: RHIT, RHIA, or CCS certification from AHIMA is required
• For professional fee coding: CCS-P from AHIMA or CPC from AAPC is required

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• CPC-I - Certified Professional Coder Instructor (AAPC) -- (CBO Coders only) OR
• CPMA - Certified Professional Medical Auditor (AAPC) -- (CBO Coders only)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Expert knowledge and proficiency in the following:

• ICD-9-CM , and CPT/HCPCS coding classification systems

• ICD-10-CM and CPT (for professional fee coding); and ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS and HCPCS (includes CPT) (for inpatient/outpatient coding) coding classification systems

• For inpatient/outpatient coding: MS-DRG, APR DRG and APC assignment systems

• Official coding guidelines and coding compliance

• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes and pharmacology

• Knowledge of all components of the medical record

• Proficiency with electronic encoder application

• Basic computer knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office products

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products

• AHIMA designated ICD-10 Approved Trainer preferred or for CBO coders AAPC CPC-I or CPMA preferred

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

 

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.