PURPOSE OF THE JOB: Oversees, leads, plans, manages, and supervises the day‑to‑day operations of the Health Information Management Services (HIMS) department and staff. Develops departmental goals, operating budgets, policies, and procedures aligned with BBAHC policies and applicable legal and governmental regulations. Serves as the organization’s designated Privacy Officer.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Collaborates with senior leadership to establish annual, monthly, and weekly operational goals and executes detailed plans in accordance with HIMS best practices, legal and regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information privacy laws, access, and release‑of‑information requirements, including but not limited to 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, and HITECH.
- Maintains advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, coding guidelines, ICD‑10‑CM, CPT‑4, HCPCS, patient care documentation standards, and auditing principles.
- Aligns HIMS staff with BBAHC’s mission, vision, core values, and strategic objectives. Provides onboarding, coaching, and training to ensure proficiency in customer service and HIMS procedures.
- Conducts routine performance audits and reviews to ensure compliance with departmental, organizational, and regulatory standards, including corrective action plans and periodic performance evaluations.
- Collaborates with physicians and other patient care providers regarding billing and documentation requirements; obtains clarification of ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation.
- Establishes and administers processes for receiving, documenting, tracking, investigating, and responding to privacy‑related complaints in coordination with leadership, related departments, and legal counsel when necessary.
- Reviews system‑related information security plans in collaboration with the Security Officer to ensure alignment between privacy and security practices; serves as a liaison to the information systems department.
- Works with organizational personnel involved in the release of protected health information to ensure full compliance with policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
- Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal and state privacy laws and accreditation standards; monitors advancements in information privacy technologies to ensure organizational compliance and adaptation.
- Establishes control procedures to ensure efficient and accurate management of patient records, including equipment acquisition and revision of medical record forms and reports.
- Coordinates use of health information services for research, utilization review, medical audits, performance improvement activities, disability evaluations, and other organizational needs.
- Provides consultative services to administration and programs regarding record‑keeping practices.
- Evaluates current and projected needs for Health Information Management systems and data in support of patient care, education, research, and administrative functions.
- Maintains appropriate patient record controls and statistics for prospective payment systems to ensure compliance with CMS and other regulatory agencies.
- Responsible for gathering medical records for auditors, including contract auditors, RAC, PERM, and other third‑party payors, as needed.
Qualifications:
- Associate’s degree in business, finance, or a related field required. Relevant work experience may be substituted on a year‑for‑year basis in lieu of college education.
- Current certification as RHIA, RHIT, or CCS required.
- Certification as CPC, CDEO, or CDEI preferred.
- Certified Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) certification required at hire or obtained within one year.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Must be able to see, hear, speak, walk, sit, bend, kneel and lift and carry up to 20 pounds with or without accommodation. Limited travel required to Anchorage or lower 48 for conferences and training.
POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Coders, Medical Records Technician, Records Analysts, and File Clerks.
SUPERVISED BY: Revenue Cycle Manager
Skills Required
- Associate's degree in business, finance, or related field
- Current certification as RHIA, RHIT, or CCS
- Certification as CPC, CDEO, or CDEI
- Certified Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) certification
What We Do
Our Mission: We provide quality health care with competence, compassion, and sensitivity. We generously welcome you to join us in a place of unrivaled natural beauty, endless recreational opportunities, and a sustainable rural way of life. Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (BBAHC) is a tribal health organization that represents 28 tribes throughout the region, which is approximately 35,000 square miles. BBAHC is comprised of four subregions, each distinct in history, culture, natural resources, and community priorities. The regions include: Nushagak River & Bay Central, Southern, Western, and Kvichak Bay & North Side Peninsula. BBAHC manages the Bristol Bay Service Unit for the Indian Health Service and has done so since 1980. The main campus of the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation is in Dillingham, which is located at the confluence of the Nushagak and Wood River systems and is a regional hub of the Bristol Bay salmon fishing district. BBAHC operates the Kanakanak Hospital along with 21 Village Clinics, all of which are HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) Clinics. Clinical services include: Pharmacy, Medical Imaging, Laboratory, Dental, Optometry, Audiology, and Physical Therapy. The Kanakanak Campus also includes a residential treatment facility and a behaviorial health counseling center. BBAHC is Joint Commission Accredited and upholds high standards for quality patient care.
