HIM Release of Information Specialist II

About the role

This position is responsible for ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of patient medical information, working with legal, compliance, and risk management teams, and managing patient access requests.

Responsibilities

• Ensures compliance with Federal and State Regulations and organization policies regarding privacy, confidentiality, and release of medical information.
• Works with Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management on complex subpoenas, court orders, and patient access requests.
• Reviews and validates these documents to ensure they meet legal requirements.
• Serves as the main contact for questions and concerns regarding the coordination of specialty services.
• Prioritizes and processes routine and complex requests for forms, release of health information, itemized bills, Health Information Exchange requests and estimates.
• Reviews and verifies each page of scanned documentation prior to releasing to ensure there are no incorrect patient documents in the record.
• Identifies and accurately selects 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.
• Locates and ensures that any information imported or scanned into the EHR, which is not available via the release module, is included in the request as appropriate.
• 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.
• Releases forms and medical information 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.
• Generates, distributes, collects, and deposits fees/cash accurately and timely for copies of medical information, workers compensation and specialty forms, ensuring prompt posting of revenue.
• Reviews and transcribes 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.
• Performs follow-up on all form completion requests to ensure patient satisfaction by meeting established key performance indicators.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with physicians and clinicians.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert in answering patient, clinician, attorneys and employee questions/concerns relating to forms and release of information workflows.
• Performs clerical functions which may include answering phones, copying, faxing, distributing mail, and/or ordering/delivering department or facility supplies.

Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or GED Equivalent.
• Experience: Typically requires 1-2 years of experience in healthcare or customer service.
• Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: 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; meets or exceeds 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; demonstrates strong problem-solving skills including the ability to handle difficult situations; prioritizes workload, multi-task, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with time constraints; must have high attention to detail and accuracy.

Qualifications

• Physical Requirements: Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. Exposed to a normal office environment.

Skills

• 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.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills including the ability to handle difficult situations.
• Prioritizes workload, multi-task, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with time constraints.
• Must have high attention to detail and accuracy.

Benefits

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards, including competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development, and so much more. Please see the Benefits and More section for details.