Hospital Coder Lead

Appalachian Regional Healthcare System; Boone (NC); On-site; USD 29,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Wellness incentives

Employee discounts

Job summary

UNC Health Appalachian is seeking a Lead Hospital Coder to serve as the subject matter expert for inpatient and outpatient coding accuracy, documentation integrity, and regulatory compliance. The role includes advanced coding, auditing, coaching, and mentoring to coding staff to ensure accurate reimbursement and quality reporting.

The position requires CCS certification, a minimum of three years inpatient coding experience, and may entail supervisory responsibilities within the HIM department.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED is required at time of hire.
• Associate Degree in related field preferred, but not required.
• Three years inpatient coding experience or extensive knowledge and demonstrated work experience.
• Previous supervisory experience in an HIM Department preferred.
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is required at time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily coding operations in Facility Coding Operations.
• Perform full range of coding, abstracts data from records, and analyze coding issues.
• Lead peer reviews and serve as a coding liaison to UNC Health Appalachian providers.

Skills

Inpatient coding

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate Degree preferred

Job description

Why You’ll Love Working Here

As a Hospital Coder Lead at UNC Health Appalachian, serve as the subject matter expert for inpatient and outpatient hospital coding accuracy, documentation integrity, regulatory compliance, and coding quality improvement initiatives. This position performs advanced coding and auditing functions while providing leadership, education, mentoring, and technical guidance to coding staff. The Lead Hospital Coder promotes accurate reimbursement, quality reporting, case mix optimization, and compliance with all federal, state, and organizational coding standards.

Compensation: Starting pay begins at $25.86per hour, with competitive rates based on experience and education.
Schedule: Variable shifts, including weekends and holidays.
Benefits: Comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, retirement with employer match, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, wellness incentives, and employee discounts.

Location

Boone, North Carolina | Full-Time |

Position Summary

The Lead Hospital Coder assists the Facility Coding Operations and CDI Manager with oversight of daily coding operations. This position performs the full range of coding; abstracts data from the record; performs chart analysis and research of coding issues; peer reviews; and serves as a medical documentation and coding liaison to UNC Health Appalachian providers.

Position Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED is required at time of hire.
• Associate Degree in related field preferred, but not required.

Experience

• Three years inpatient coding experience or extensive knowledge and demonstrated work experience.
• Previous supervisory experience in an HIM Department preferred.

Required Registration/License/Certification

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is required at time of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with the public, patients, family, staff, and physician and acts within the chain of command, utilizing positive verbal and non-verbal skills
• Competent in delivering safe and effective patient care within legal limits of license and certifications and hospital policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the continuum of care provided in the patient care department
• Ability to demonstrate exceptional customer service to patients, family, staff, and physicians

Physical Demands

• Lifts, positions, pushes, pulls, and/or transfers up to and greater than 30 pounds
• Manual dexterity and mobility
• Prolonged, extensive or considerable sitting/standing/walking
• Bending, squatting, twisting, and turning
• Near acuity: ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less

Working Conditions

• Infrequently exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases
• Infrequently exposed to hazards from electrical/mechanical/power equipment, odorous chemicals and specimens, and unpleasant elements (accident, injury, slippery surfaces, uneven surfaces), etc.
• May be subject to irregular hours (days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays) and emergencies
• Continuous sitting, standing and walking long periods = to or greater than > 8 hours per shift
• Speaking, reading, and writing, expanded > 8 hours per day
• Exposed to vibration and cramped spaces
• Infrequently lifts, carries, pushes, and/or pulls > 30 lbs.
• May bend, squat, kneel, twist, turn, and reach during the course of their shift
• Frequently per minute: hand, finger, and wrist repetition and moderate dexterity
• Frequently per hour: exposed to close eye work
• Infrequently may be exposed to ionizing/nonionizing radiation exposure, including x-ray and microwave