Job summary
The RNOH Clinical Coding Department seeks to employ a Clinical Coding Validation Lead to a permanent position.
We are looking for an experienced Clinical Coder to join our Specialised Orthopaedic Clinical Coding Team. The post holder must have experience of coding complex surgical specialties and excellent knowledge of National Clinical Coding Standards (ICD-10 and OPCS-4), HRG4+ and NHS financial flows based on codes and HRGs. Previous experience of complex orthopaedic coding and validation will be an advantage.
The post-holder is responsible for delivering a robust clinical coding validation programme to achieve and maintain the highest possible quality of coded data. The validation programme will extend across all specialties involving all clinical teams, using the ICD-10 and OPCS-4 Classifications and adhering to National and Local Clinical Coding Standards.
The post-holder will deliver the comprehensive coding validation programme under the supervision of the Head of Clinical Coding and provide expert advice on clinical coding data aspects, coding inconsistencies, documentation issues and areas of under achievement to provide the Trust with a high quality clinical coding validation service.
Main duties of the job
Lead the speciality validation process, collaborating with Clinical Coders, Clinicians and other key staff to enhance the accuracy and completeness of clinical coding data. This includes delivering coding awareness sessions to clinicians and attending speciality meetings.
You will work closely with the Head of Clinical Coding to deliver an expanding clinical coding validation programme. As a part of our four clinical coding quality leads you will work closely with clinicians to improve the quality of the clinical information provided to the coding team, develop the quality of coding by providing technical coding and quality improvement skills into the team and deliver a comprehensive range of validation processes for coded clinical data.
The post-holder will be responsible to locate, assimilate and analyse complex clinical information documented by clinicians in the casenotes.
Record and report the income impact of all coding changes and decisions through close working with senior clinicians.
Abstract and locate any supplementary information essential to the coding process from clinical systems or local systems in different clinical units.
Translate clinical information into clinical codes using ICD-10 5th Edition and OPCS-4.9 classifications, using Simplecode encoder software and adhering to National and local Clinical Coding Standards.
About us
The post holder will work as part of a friendly clinical coding team and will gain a detailed and comprehensive understanding of a wide range of specialised Orthopaedics activity.
The Clinical Coding department at RNOH relies on the extensive knowledge and expertise of the Clinical Coders to meet the highest levels of coded data quality.
The post holder will have an opportunity to work from home after successful completion of the probation period and specialised training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder is responsible for working with clinical leads to undertake validation of coded data at the patient level, providing verbal and written feedback to support and improve data quality, the depth of coding and the quality of source documents available to clinical coders.
The post-holder is responsible for improving the quality of coded data produced by the whole coding team for all clinical teams. The post-holder will act as the validation lead for the set of clinical teams for the following coding quality improvement activities:
- Informal coding validation processes to measure the quality of coded data
- Clinician validation of coded data
- Coding query resolution
- Feedback of coding validation findings to clinical coding team
- Local coding guidelines development
You will form close working relationships with a variety of specialised clinical teams including Spinal Surgery, Spinal Cord Injury, Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Injuries, Rehabilitation, Foot and Ankle, Upper Limb and Joint Reconstruction/ Sarcoma.
Participate and assist departmental training sessions, coding quality initiatives and internal audits.
Informal coding audit and validation processes to measure the quality of coded data.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder is responsible for working with clinical leads to undertake validation of coded data at the patient level, providing verbal and written feedback to support and improve data quality, the depth of coding and the quality of source documents available to clinical coders.
The post-holder is responsible for improving the quality of coded data produced by the whole coding team for all clinical teams. The post-holder will act as the validation lead for the set of clinical teams for the following coding quality improvement activities:
- Informal coding validation processes to measure the quality of coded data
- Clinician validation of coded data
- Coding query resolution
- Feedback of coding validation findings to clinical coding team
- Local coding guidelines development
You will form close working relationships with a variety of specialised clinical teams including Spinal Surgery, Spinal Cord Injury, Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Injuries, Rehabilitation, Foot and Ankle, Upper Limb and Joint Reconstruction/ Sarcoma.
Participate and assist departmental training sessions, coding quality initiatives and internal audits.
Informal coding audit and validation processes to measure the quality of coded data.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- National Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC) or minimum 5 years coding experience
- NHS England Terminology and Classifications Delivery Service Approved Clinical Coding Auditor (or working towards it)
Desirable
- Degree in Healthcare setting
- NHS England Terminology and Classifications Delivery Service Approved Clinical Coding Trainer (or working towards it)
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years proven specialised orthopaedic coding experience or minimum of 5 years coding experience in acute Trusts
- Experience in coding validation with clinicians
- Clinical coding audit experience
- Experience of working successfully as part of a team and singly unsupervised
- Experience of using clinical encoder software
Desirable
- Demonstrable expertise in orthopaedic clinical coding or clinical coding in other specialist areas
- Clinical coding audit experience
- Experience of supervising coding team
Knowledge
Essential
- Thorough and in depth knowledge of National Clinical Coding Standards and Coding Guidelines
- Knowledge of national payment technical guidance and Healthcare Resource Groups
- Extensive theoretical knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
- Knowledge of NHS information systems and data flows
- Knowledge of data protection and confidentiality issues
Desirable
- Detailed understanding of uses of coded clinical data
Skills
Essential
- Able to apply complex coding instructions and make decisions when multiple rules are valid
- Able to explain complex coding rules and justify code assignment to clinicians
- Able to interpret various clinical coding reports
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
- Able to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines
- Able to work in an organised, methodical way, paying attention to detail
- Able to work to long-term quality improvement goals using own initiative and managing limited resources effectively
- Able to make judgements and recommendations involving complex and sometimes contentious information or situations, including conflicting rules for codes and income
- Good verbal and written communication skills, able to comprehend, analyse, evaluate and present complex information
- Presentation skills
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Able to model the impact of changes to code assignment by checking HRG and tariff impact
- Report writing
- Managing change processes
- Using coded data for influencing and decision making
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- National Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC) or minimum 5 years coding experience
- NHS England Terminology and Classifications Delivery Service Approved Clinical Coding Auditor (or working towards it)
Desirable
- Degree in Healthcare setting
- NHS England Terminology and Classifications Delivery Service Approved Clinical Coding Trainer (or working towards it)
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years proven specialised orthopaedic coding experience or minimum of 5 years coding experience in acute Trusts
- Experience in coding validation with clinicians
- Clinical coding audit experience
- Experience of working successfully as part of a team and singly unsupervised
- Experience of using clinical encoder software
Desirable
- Demonstrable expertise in orthopaedic clinical coding or clinical coding in other specialist areas
- Clinical coding audit experience
- Experience of supervising coding team
Knowledge
Essential
- Thorough and in depth knowledge of National Clinical Coding Standards and Coding Guidelines
- Knowledge of national payment technical guidance and Healthcare Resource Groups
- Extensive theoretical knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
- Knowledge of NHS information systems and data flows
- Knowledge of data protection and confidentiality issues
Desirable
- Detailed understanding of uses of coded clinical data
Skills
Essential
- Able to apply complex coding instructions and make decisions when multiple rules are valid
- Able to explain complex coding rules and justify code assignment to clinicians
- Able to interpret various clinical coding reports
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
- Able to work under pressure and meet demanding deadlines
- Able to work in an organised, methodical way, paying attention to detail
- Able to work to long-term quality improvement goals using own initiative and managing limited resources effectively
- Able to make judgements and recommendations involving complex and sometimes contentious information or situations, including conflicting rules for codes and income
- Good verbal and written communication skills, able to comprehend, analyse, evaluate and present complex information
- Presentation skills
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Able to model the impact of changes to code assignment by checking HRG and tariff impact
- Report writing
- Managing change processes
- Using coded data for influencing and decision making
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Address
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Brockley Hill
Stanmore, London
HA7 4LP
Employer's website
https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
