HIM Release of Information Specialist I

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation•Charlotte, NC

19h•Onsite

About The Position

This full-time position operates Monday-Friday, 1st Shift, with a work week of 40 hours. The HIM Release of Information Specialist I is responsible for ensuring, safeguarding, and protecting patients' right to privacy by staying current and knowledgeable of all Federal and State Regulations and organization policies regarding privacy, confidentiality, and release of information. This role involves receiving requests, validating authorizations, identifying requester types, and ensuring all releases of information comply with legal requirements, policies, and HIPAA regulations to safeguard the organization from legal and government repercussions. The specialist logs requests, scans authorizations, identifies and selects appropriate patient information from the legal health record, and ensures all necessary information is included. They review scanned documentation for accuracy, release records in the requested format (electronic files, CDs, email, patient portal), and understand cybersecurity risks, following rules for encrypting electronic communication. Additionally, the role provides excellent customer service, answers phones, copies, faxes, distributes mail, and orders/delivers supplies.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
Typically requires 0-1 years of experience in healthcare or customer service.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills
Strong ethical skills to handle confidential information with integrity and keep it confidential
Strong research skills to identify appropriate PHI in historical and current patient records
Excellent spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills
Ability to adapt to and accurately work with new technology and artificial intelligence
Strong understanding of cyber security risks and proper reporting thereof
Meet or exceed department quality and productivity expectations
Advanced computer skills including proficient keyboarding skills and experience in using Microsoft Office products, electronic mail and/or electronic health information record systems
Ability to read and comprehend medical terminology, human anatomy, and disease processes, and/or state and federal regulations related to HIPAA and release of medical information
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and make decisions with good judgement
Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills including the ability to handle difficult situations
Ability to prioritize workload, multi-task, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with time constraints
Must have high attention to detail and accuracy

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience in customer service, release of information, health information management, or healthcare billing.
Ability to read and comprehend medical terminology, human anatomy, and disease processes, and state and federal regulations related to HIPAA and release of medical information.

Responsibilities

Ensures, safeguards, and protects patients right to privacy by staying current and knowledgeable of all Federal and State Regulations and organization policies regarding privacy, confidentiality, and release of information pertaining to continuing care, insurance, patient, and social security disability requests.
Receives requests, validates that the authorization meets legal requirements, and identifies requester type.
Ensures all releases of information are in compliant with the request, authorization, policies, and State and Federal HIPAA regulations and guidelines to safeguard the organization from legal and government repercussions.
Logs requests into the Release of Information tracking system utilizing OnBase and EPIC.
Scans the authorization into the release module according to documented process.
Identifies and accurately selects appropriate patient information that is included within the legal health record and designated record set to process the request and to comply with State and Federal regulations to prevent a breach or a complaint from the Office of Civil Rights.
Locates and ensures any information that is imported or scanned into the EHR that is not available via the release module is included in the request as appropriate.
Reviews each page of scanned documentation prior to releasing to ensure there are no incorrect patient documents in the record. Any improperly scanned documentation is reported to their leader for correction.
Releases records in the format requested, creating electronic files to export to CD’s, e-mail, the patient portal, or requester portals.
Understands potential dangers of lack of cyber security and follows rules around encrypting electronic communication, CD’s, and e-mail.
Provides excellent customer service in a respectful manner, ensures understanding of customer requests and assists them appropriately; this includes, but is not limited to providing status of requests, providing information on how to request records, and explaining the process including typical turnaround times.
Performs clerical functions which may include answering phones, copying, faxing, distributing mail, and/or ordering/delivering department or facility supplies.

Benefits

Comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs
Competitive compensation
Generous retirement offerings
Programs that invest in your career development
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program