Outpatient Coder - HIM Specialist

10 Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is seeking an experienced Health Information Management professional to review outpatient documentation and accurately code conditions and procedures according to ICD-10-CM guidelines. Under the manager of Health Information Management, this role ensures compliant billing, reporting, and regulatory data.

The ideal candidate has an associates degree or equivalent, RHIA/RHIT/CCS/CCA/CPC certifications, and strong anatomy knowledge.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or equivalent training; two years progressive on-the-job experience in a professional medical office or hospital setting.
• RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, CPC certification.
• Advanced understanding of anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, and record documentation requirements.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Time management to handle multiple priorities and work under pressure.
• Familiarity with HIM principles and hospital record coding guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Designates codes for diagnosis, treatments, and procedures per outpatient classification system.
• Uses ICD-10-CM coding principles and AHIMA guidelines to assign codes.
• Consults with HIM team lead for complex cases and with outpatient utilization review as needed.
• Reviews provider documentation to resolve ambiguities and ensure record completeness.
• Collaborates across departments to support accurate data reporting and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication (oral & written)

Time management

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

Associates degree or equivalent training

RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, CPC certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Hours: Full-Time, 30 hours per week

Mary Free Bed Summary

We have the great privilege of helping patients and families re-build their lives. It’s extraordinarily meaningful work and the reason we greet the day with optimism and anticipation. When patients “Ask for Mary,” they experience a culture that has been sculpted for more than a century. Our hallmark is to carefully listen to patients and innovatively serve them. This is true of every employee, from support staff and leadership, to clinicians and care providers. Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital serving thousands of children and adults each year through inpatient, outpatient, sub-acute rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics and home and community programs. With the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed physicians, nurses and therapists help our patients achieve outstanding clinical outcomes. The growing Mary Free Bed Network provides patients throughout the state with access to our unique standard of care

Mission Statement

Restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation

Employment Value Proposition

• Focus on Patient Care. A selfless drive to serve and heal connects all MFB employees.
• Clinical Variety and Challenge. An inter-disciplinary approach and a top team of professionals create ever-changing opportunities and activities.
• Family Culture. We offer the stability of a large organization while nurturing the family/team atmosphere of a small organization.
• Trust in Each Other. Each employee knows that co-workers can be trusted to make the right decision for our family, patients, staff, and community.
• A Proud Tradition. Years of dedicated, quality service to our patients and community have yielded a reputation that fills our employees with pride.

Summary Review outpatient clinical documentation and diagnostic results as appropriate to extract data and apply appropriate ICD-10-CM codes for billing, internal and external reporting, research, and regulatory compliance. Under the direction of the manager of Health Information Management, accurately code outpatient conditions and procedures as documented in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Designates codes for diagnosis, treatments, and procedures according to the appropriate classification system for outpatient encounters.
• Utilizes technical coding principles to assign appropriate ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.
• Abides by the Standards of Ethical Coding as set forth by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and adheres to official coding guidelines.
• Consults with Coding Specialist – HIM Team Lead as needed, for assistance/ mentoring with complicated case files.
• Collaborates closely with Outpatient Utilization Review Specialists when coding review is needed for complicated coverage situations
• Reviews with providers (therapist or other healthcare providers) for clarification and additional documentation prior to code assignment when there is conflicting, incomplete, or ambiguous information in the health record
• Provides general assistance to physicians, therapists, hospital staff and patient/families regarding health information issues. Provide training to new health information staff students/residents as assigned.
• Reports record deficiencies for chart completion/reporting purposes. Take initiative to investigate charts with missing information using independent judgment. Interface with Medical/professional staff to ensure timely record completion and provide follow up when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by leadership, which could include but are not limited to; performing chart audits, analyzing information to ensure record compliance with accreditation requirements, scanning, etc.

Customer Service Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement

Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

• Associates degree or equivalent training required through, at least, two (2) years of progressive on-the-job experience in a professional medical office or hospital setting.
• RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, CPC certification.
• Advanced understanding of anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, and record documentation requirements. Familiarity with principles and practices of HIM and understand how they apply to hospital records and coding.
• Strong and effective interpersonal skills, including oral and written.
• Time management skills to handle multiple, competing demands and priorities, and work effectively under pressure.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Quick learning style with the ability to ask discerning questions.
• Sense of urgency and ability to quickly adapt to changes in priorities.
• Collaborative team style and open communication, including with other departments and sites.
• Self-directing, organized and has the ability to reason objectively.
• Must be able to work independently as well as in a group functioning in a multi-task environment.
• Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational mission with a “whatever it takes” attitude to get the job done.
• Credible and trustworthy.
• Information-management skills and ability to interpret, communicate, and present data.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• One year outpatient coding experience in a hospital or physician office setting.

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification Levels

• None (No specific requirements)
• Occasionally (Less than 1/3)
• Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)
• Majority (More than 2/3)

Physical Requirements

• Remain in a stationary position: Majority
• Traverse or move around work location: None
• Use keyboard: Majority
• Operate or use department specific equipment: None
• Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder: None
• Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role: None
• Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding: Frequently
• Transport, position, and/or exert force:
  • Up to 10 pounds: Occasionally
  • Up to 25 pounds: None
  • Up to 50 pounds: None
  • Up to 75 pounds: None
  • More than 100 pounds: None
• Other weight:
  • Up to___ pounds None
  • Other: _____

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.

Compensation based on experience, starting from $20.94.

At Mary Free Bed, we work towards putting everybody in motion. Fueled by our passion for innovative, integrated rehabilitation care, our teams work together to elevate everyone’s potential. Whether you’re here to ensure a safe environment at our hospitals, provide clinical care or help our patients navigate their next appointment, we’re united by the same mission: to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. Everyone plays an integral role in defining a better future for ourselves, our patients, and our communities. You included.