Coding Educator (Remote)

ChristianaCare•Newark, DE

6d•$36 - $58•Remote

About The Position

ChristianaCare is seeking a Coding Educator to monitor and validate hospital soft-coded and abstracted information for specific hospital patient types and provide education and training to coding staff on identified improvement areas. The role serves as an educator for Coding and Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) staff on documentation, coding, and regulatory compliance. The educator supports coding management by monitoring and updating acute coding policies to improve the quality and accuracy of coding services, and analyzes internal and external audit trends to develop and deliver education plans. The position plans and conducts audits of documentation, coding, and billing across ChristianaCare entities; develops written audit guidance, summaries, and reports; and creates and delivers training and educational materials that address audit findings and deficiencies while meeting regulatory requirements. It validates coding systems, diagnoses, procedures, modifiers, claim-form transfers, and compliance with DRG/APC structures. The educator also monitors inpatient case-mix and DRG trends, supports staff and provider education, helps with coding system testing and troubleshooting, and may assist with inpatient coordinator duties. ChristianaCare describes itself as one of the largest health care providers in the Mid-Atlantic Region, with hospitals in Wilmington and Newark, Delaware, and Elkton, Maryland. The position is listed as remote. The stated hourly pay range is $36.10–$57.76; the actual offer depends on individual skills, relevant experience, and qualifications.

Requirements

RHIA or RHIT certification, or equivalent certification/degree.
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) through AHIMA.
College credits in medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
Two years of auditing experience; acute-care, teaching-hospital experience preferred.
Four years of coding/DRG experience; acute-care, teaching-hospital experience preferred.

Nice To Haves

ICD-10 approved trainer through AHIMA.
CDIP or CCDS certification.
Auditing experience in an acute-care, teaching-hospital setting.
Coding/DRG experience in an acute-care, teaching-hospital setting.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct audits and report on documentation, coding, and billing performed at ChristianaCare entities.
Review, develop, and deliver training programs and educational materials to address audit-identified deficiencies in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Provide written audit guidance.
Participate with management in assessing external audit findings and respond as needed.
Develop detailed audit summaries and reports addressing coding, documentation, financial impact, and profitability.
Conduct training or work with external resources to present final audit findings to department staff and appropriate individuals.
Validate ICD-CM, ICD-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II codes and modifier systems; identify missed secondary diagnoses and procedures; and ensure compliance with DRG/APC structures and regulatory requirements.
Perform periodic claim-form reviews to check code-transfer accuracy from the abstracting system and chargemaster.
Work with Coding Management to create and monitor inpatient case-mix reports and the facilities’ top 25 assigned DRGs; identify patterns, trends, and variations, evaluate affected cases, and take appropriate steps to resolve problems.
Review and interpret medical information, classify it into appropriate payor-specific ICD-CM, ICD-PCS, and CPT codes for diagnoses and procedures, and calculate DRG and APC.
Train and mentor new staff, perform audits and research for special projects, and provide coverage for the coding management team as assigned or required.
Provide or arrange education for facility health care professionals on coding guidelines and practices, documentation techniques, medical terminology, disease processes, and related DRG/APC and clinical data quality factors.
Design and implement coder education and continuing education programs with technical direction and assistance from management, and assist CDI leadership with medical staff education programs.
Establish and monitor performance and maintain appropriate documentation.
Assist with inpatient coordinator tasks as needed.
Support coding system testing, troubleshooting, and upgrades.

Benefits

Full medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, among other benefits.
403(b) with company match.
Generous paid time off.
Annual membership to care.com.
Access to backup care services for dependents through Care@Work.
Retirement planning services.
Financial coaching.
Fitness and wellness reimbursement.
Discounts through vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows, sporting events, and movie tickets.
Employee assistance program.