Description

West River Health Services Mission:  

The mission of West River Health Services is to provide comprehensive health and wellness services to the residents and visitors of the region.

Position Summary: 

This individual is responsible for directing health information management functions and activities of the organization, including medical record oversight, coding, transcription, release of information, and privacy of patient information.  In addition, this individual serves as the HIPAA Privacy Officer.  The director of medical records is appointed by the governing body (or responsible individual).  (C-1106)


Excellence in Practice

• Organizes plans, directs and supervises department functions and activities to comply with established policies and procedures.
• Participates in the design, implementation and maintenance of the hospital electronic health record.
• Recruits and oversees staff within the department; develops job descriptions for departmental employees and works effectively with staff in the conduct of department operations.
• Establishes health information management policies and procedures on release of information, confidentiality, information security, patient privacy of information, information storage and retrieval, and record retention.
• Develops short- and long-range goals and objectives within the department in conjunction with the annual budget and monitors progress for the continued improvement of hospital services and operations.
• Serves as privacy officer for the organization; oversees patient rights to inspect, amend, restrict access to, and receive an accounting of disclosures of his/her patient health information; tracks access to protected health information.
• Communicates with and maintains effective working relationships with physicians.
• Maintains accurate and pertinent data and statistical information that satisfies the requirements of Medicare/Medicaid, auditors, Department of Health, etc.
• Provides education and training to employees and medical staff in areas relevant to health information management policies and procedures.
  
  

Innovation in Service

• Leads and serves as a role model for the organization and exemplifies the corporate values of WRHSF. Directs and participates in community service projects.
• Maintains required needs for continuing education and development needs for their position. Monitors employee’s licensures and assists with training and development goals.
• Educates, communicates, and follows all facility policies and procedures (example, fire drills, bomb threats, tornado, disaster plans and other procedures). Ensure that employees are continually updated on any changes and provides training as well.
• Provides leadership when implementing changes that affect the organization and its employees. Develops and cultivates an environment that promotes growth, empowers employees and inspires everyone to participate in the shared vision for today and tomorrow.
  

Compassion for the people we serve

• Demonstrates courtesy, cooperation and sensitivity toward employees, patients, family and visitors. Serves as a role model for the behaviors and standards the organization requires of all employees.
• Displays empathy and offers support for employees, patients and visitors throughout the facility.
• Maintains a warm and welcoming environment for all individuals and demonstrates caring and concern.

Respect for one another

• Maintains strict confidentiality of patient and organizational information; including employee information as well as patient information.
• Adheres to all Administrative and Personnel Policies (example: dress code policy, attendance policy, parking policy and all others).  Educates staff on the policies, coaches employees as needed and leads by example for all employees.
• Promotes positive relationships within your own department and offers assistance, guidance and support to all departments through out the facility. Is mindful that the customer is not just the patients and visitors, but also those they work with on a daily basis.
• Displays and promotes positive relationships with other departments within the organization as well as within the community.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education:            Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential is required.

Experience:          A minimum of 3 years experience in health information management is required, supervisory experience is preferred.  Also required is experience in working with computers and health information software and electronic medical records.

License Requirements:      RHIT credential 


Physical Requirements:

**Lifting more that 51lbs requires an assistive device and or additional physical assistance

  Exposure Risks:  

                             ____ Level 1: Tasks may involve exposure to blood and or body fluids. This includes all related tasks that involve inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood and or body fluids. Appropriate protective supplies are readily available.

                             _X___ Level 2: Tasks that do not involve exposure to blood and or body fluids, but exposure may be required in emergency situations. Appropriate protective supplies are readily available.

                             ____ Level 3: Tasks or work environment that exposes individuals to hazardous chemicals. Appropriate protective supplies are readily available.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.
 

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.