Senior HIM Specialist - EMPI

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO medical plan

Paid Time Off

Retirement Programs (TRS)

Tuition Reimbursement

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

UT Southwestern Medical Center seeks a Senior HIM Specialist to ensure accurate collection, processing, and secure handling of protected health information across paper and electronic formats. You will support leadership with input and follow‑through to maintain data integrity and compliance with regulations.

The role emphasizes collaboration with HIM teams, adherence to privacy standards, and efficient handling of information requests to support patient care and operational goals.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Two years healthcare experience with vocational certificate or three years healthcare experience without certificate.
• Additional education in HIM, business, or related field may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a superuser for new software applications and assists in training.
• Provides back‑up coverage as needed.
• Maintains accuracy in EMR and health information processes.
• Monitors and coordinates release of information requests within required timelines.
• Ensures privacy and security of patient records and delivers excellent customer service.

Skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Mentoring teammates

Customer service

Education

High school diploma

HIM-related education

Vocational certificate or HIM degree

Tools

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Health Information Management Systems

Job description

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY

Participates as an essential member of the Health Information Management Department for the by ensuring that an individual's health data and information is accurate, complete, accessible, confidential, and secure. The Senior HIM Specialist is responsible for assisting with the collection, processing, maintenance, disclosure and transportation of protected patient health information via paper and/or electronic format in a manner that is in compliance with organizational, departmental, and regulatory requirements. Provides input, suggestions and follow-up to the team's leadership to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all assigned duties and tasks without comprising the integrity of patient information.

BENEFITS

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience

• 2 years of health care experience and proof of completed vocational certificate or Degree which also supports the domain of the HIM field or
• 3 years of health care experience, business, and/or HIM experience in lieu of vocational certificate.
• Additional education in HIM, Business or related field which supports the domain of the HIM field may be considered in lieu of experience.

JOB DUTIES

• General Functions
  • Functions as a 'superuser' for new software applications or upgrades in existing applications and assists in training of assigned team members.
  • Provides back up coverage as needed.
  • Utilizes the electronic medical record, health information systems, and other electronic healthcare and departmental applications with accuracy and precision due to a good working knowledge of technology and the health information management process and procedures.
  • Performs and monitors special projects in order to meet turnaround times, production standards, and project deadlines.
  • Communicates all known concerns, customer complaints, and other information that might adversely affect the UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) or department, to HIM Management.
  • Fosters in building a cooperative, supportive, productive, and efficient team that while serving as a mentor.
  • Promotes team engagement.
  • Protects the privacy and security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
  • Provides outstanding customer service to all HIM customers, UTSW clinics and other UTSW departments when answering phones, assisting with health information management questions, and concerns or as the appropriate need arises.
• ROI Functions
  • Verifies updates, maintains, and retrieves patient health information in paper and/or electronic format for authorized personnel.
  • Accurately monitors, reviews, data enters and processes requests for release of information and validate that the requests and medical records are complete, accurate, within the required timeline, and in compliance with the State and Federal guidelines.
  • Monitors and performs various radiology film library functions upon request including calling and corresponding with patients and other department staff via in-person, telephone, email or fax.
  • Monitors and executes the timely and accurate uploading of external CDs/DVDs and/or printing and digitizing of films upon request.
• Scanning Functions
  • Prepares, indexes, and scans protected patient health information documentation in the electronic medical record while ensuring quality.
  • Performs quality checks of scanned medical documents within the established guidelines without co-worker bias.
  • Transcription Functions
  • Monitors, verifies, faxes, sends, notifies, and corrects transcribed documents utilizing the electronic medical record, the established internal and external communications systems, directories and transcription system.
• EMPI Functions
  • Monitors, reviews, verifies, merges, corrects, and updates information concerning patient's medical record numbers and demographic information in the electronic medical record and other established systems.
• Record Management Functions
  • Retrieves, delivers, and re-files patient medical record utilizing the established electronic chart locator system.
• Courier Functions
  • Monitors and transports patient health information to and from departments as needed and requested.
  • Transports medical records as needed in a state-owned vehicle and must be able to pass a TX DOT background check.
• Inpatient Functions
  • Re-analyzes medical records for completeness and applies deficiencies as needed.
  • Responsible for coordinating the weekly suspension process,
  • Responsible for coordinating the daily operative scheduling suspension process.
  • Reports Performance Improvement audit results to all designated staff.
  • Responsible for prep and analysis for discharged patients.
• General Functions
  • Adheres to all UTSW and Departmental policies and procedures
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Cultivates a shared vision for the department that is consistent with the UTSW vision and strategic initiatives by upholding the departmental leadership, expectations, customer service, professionalism, standards, process and other departmental strategies.
  • Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.