Health Information Technician

                           Salary wage range:$22.36-$29.00

Essential Functions:

• Provides accurate maintenance and custodial care of the patient records system.
• Ensures the accurate and timely processing of client transactions and safekeeping of patient/client health records.
• Ensures the provision of health care services takes place in a professional, unbiased environment and is accomplished efficiently.
• Ensures all incoming mail/faxes pertaining to patient care are routed to provider for review and signatures if necessary, then processed accordingly on their return to central records.
• Routes information relating to referrals as appropriate.
• Mails patient medical correspondence.
• Scans, indexes and files documentation into the electronic health record following departmental scanning procedure.
• Daily checks through clinic for paperwork to be sorted and processed accordingly.
• Ensures confidentiality practices are maintained in accordance with the privacy rule, accreditation organization and standard health records practices.
• Accurately reviews all patient/client charts and any accompanying documents and correspondence on their return to central records.
• Performs quantitative and qualitative review of patient record for accuracy, authentication and completeness of documents.
• Scans all confidential information not required in the medical record.
• Reviews signed authorization for validity using legal guidelines. Evaluates inquiries on the basis of purpose, type of information, and requesting party.
• Releases appropriate confidential information according to procedure to health care providers, patients/clients, insurance/third party payers, attorneys, courts of law, employers, etc.
• Processes workers compensation claims.
• Maintains the PHI Disclosure Log within each electronic patient record when disclosing any protected health information from within the electronic health record.
• Receives final documentation, including death certificates, and closes records of expired patients.
• Assists staff and patients with client services related to patient/client records.
• Performs general clerical duties such as photocopying documents and forms used, filing, answering telephones, returning telephone calls, faxing information, retrieval of incoming fax information, making health records for new patients entering the GRHWC.
• Maintains file room in an orderly manner.
• Scans, indexes and files documents for all Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) and billing program documents into the tribe’s central archives filling system.
• Assists with determining principle and secondary diagnosis and treatment procedure information using standardized ICD-10, DMS-IV, and CPT4 coding systems. Consults medical and coding reference books as necessary.
• Prints quarterly patient list to anticipate system downtime event, distributes copies to related departments.
• Performs a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Education, Experience, and Licenses:

• Requires high school diploma or GED and twelve (12) months of post high school specialized job skills training in the secretarial field, or a Certificate in Health Information Technology.
• Requires one (1) year of work experience in patient/client record keeping or secretarial positions.
• OR equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Driving Requirements:

• Must maintain a valid Oregon driver’s license or obtain one upon hire, qualify for the Tribe’s vehicle insurance, and provide proof of personal vehicle insurance.

Qualifications, Registrations, and Certifications:

• Knowledge of ethical and legal requirements and restrictions pertaining to the confidential maintenance of patient records, including specially protected Behavioral Health records.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology preferred.
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance activities relating to quality of care, data entry and ICD-10 coding/DSM-4/CPT4 coding preferred.
• Requires use of fax machine, copy machine, multiline telephone, and embossing machine.
• Demonstrated knowledge of alphabetical and numerical filing systems.
• Computer and software skills preferred.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to Native American culture required.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Continually requires the ability to express or receive detailed information or important instructions through oral communication.
• Continually requires working with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm. Requires repetitive movement of wrists, hands and/or fingers. Often requires walking or moving about to accomplish tasks.
• Requires standing and/or sitting for sustained periods of time, raising objects from a lower to a higher position and/or moving objects horizontally.
• Occasionally requires lifting of up to 40 pounds.
• This position is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions.

• Supports a safe work environment by performing all duties in accordance with Tribal safety policies and procedures, and Emergency Management Plan. 

• Due to the nature of the interactions with other employees and the public we serve, employees may be required to provide documentation of, or receive, certain health vaccinations.
• May be called upon to serve as a Disaster Reservist during emergencies.
• Local travel is occasionally required. Travel outside of the state is infrequently required.

Background Check:

• Candidates for this position will be subject to criminal and character background checks and may be subject to fingerprinting.