HIM Release of Information Specialist II

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation • Charlotte, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time position is within the Enterprise Revenue Cycle - HIM Ops Release of Information department. The specialist will ensure patient privacy rights by staying current with Federal and State Regulations, organization policies, and HIPAA. They will work with Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management on complex requests, review and validate legal documents, and serve as a contact for specialty services. The role involves prioritizing and processing various requests for health information, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations. Responsibilities include reviewing scanned documentation, identifying and selecting appropriate patient information, and ensuring all relevant data is included in requests. The specialist will also be responsible for signing the Certification of Medical Record Authenticity, releasing forms in the requested format, and understanding cybersecurity protocols. Additionally, they will manage fees and deposits for medical information copies, transcribe and interpret physician documentation, and perform follow-up on form completion requests to ensure patient satisfaction. The role also includes establishing relationships with physicians and clinicians, serving as a Subject Matter Expert, and performing clerical duties.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
• Typically requires 1-2 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 judgment
• 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

• Ensure, safeguard, and protect patients' right to privacy by staying current and knowledgeable of all Federal and State Regulations and organization policies regarding privacy, confidentiality, and release of medical information.
• Work with Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management on complex subpoenas, court orders, and patient access requests, reviewing and validating these documents to ensure they meet legal requirements.
• Serve as the main contact for questions and concerns regarding the coordination of specialty services, such as meetings, depositions, narratives, and Independent Medical Exams.
• Prioritize and process routine and complex requests for forms, release of health information, itemized bills, Health Information Exchange requests and estimates by identifying and accurately selecting the appropriate documentation in compliance with State and Federal Regulations, HIPAA and the Legal Health Record policy.
• Review and verify each page of scanned documentation prior to releasing to ensure there are no incorrect patient documents in the record.
• Identify and accurately select appropriate patient information from the legal health record and designated record set to process requests and comply with State and Federal regulations, preventing breaches or complaints from the Office of Civil Rights.
• Locate and ensure that any information imported or scanned into the EHR, which is not available via the release module, is included in the request as appropriate.
• Be responsible for signing the Certification of Medical Record Authenticity, on behalf of the Record Custodian for legal proceedings which attests to the accuracy and completeness of records sent.
• Release forms and medical information in the format requested, creating electronic files to export to CD’s, e-mail, the patient portal, or requester portals.
• Understand potential dangers of lack of cyber security and follow rules around encrypting electronic communication, CD’s, and e-mail.
• Generate, distribute, collect, and deposit fees/cash accurately and timely for copies of medical information, workers compensation and specialty forms, ensuring prompt posting of revenue.
• Review and transcribe physician and clinical documentation from patient medical records onto forms accurately and timely, while also interpreting, assigning, and documenting clinical information related to the condition and diagnosis included in the form requests.
• Perform follow-up on all form completion requests to ensure patient satisfaction by meeting established key performance indicators.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians and clinicians.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert in answering patient, clinician, attorneys and employee questions/concerns relating to forms and release of information workflows.
• Perform 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

What This Job Offers

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