HIM Release of Information Specialist I

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation • Milwaukee, WI

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time position 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. The specialist receives requests, validates authorizations, and ensures all releases of information are compliant with legal requirements, policies, and HIPAA regulations. They will log requests, scan authorizations, identify and select appropriate patient information from the legal health record, and ensure all necessary information is included. The role involves releasing records in the requested format, understanding cybersecurity risks, and providing excellent customer service. Clerical functions such as answering phones, copying, and faxing may also be required.

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

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED