Manager-Coding

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Manager, Coding reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

This health system position manages a group of professionals supporting all campuses including NMH, LFH, CDH, Delnor, Kishwaukee, Valley West, Marianjoy and Centegra and is responsible for their recruitment, coaching, performance management and salary administration.  The system position requires visibility at all sites and frequent rounding across all regions to maintain successful relationships with colleagues and executive leadership.  The system position also works closely with all physician group, (NMG, RMG, KPG, etc.) leadership relating to coding practices and function integration.  Additionally, this system position is responsible for continuous demonstration of ongoing compliance with HIPAA, TJC, CMS, IDPH, Illinois Administration Code and other regulatory agencies for NMHC.

This position is responsible for the successful management of department metrics for coding.  Consistent measurement of severity of illness and risk of mortality must be captured within the medical record to assure best quality performance and representation of care provided.  In addition, quality coding practices must be maintained and measured to assure account receivables result in favorable net revenue to the organization.

The system manager is responsible for all aspects of assigned projects and takes projects from original concept through final implementation and interfaces with all areas affected by the project.

Responsibilities:

• The Manager of Coding is an expert in clinical documentation, coding practices and the associated regulatory requirements assuring consistent compliance.
• The use of technology and other tools to optimize documentation must be continually evaluated. 
• This role is responsible for managing overall Coding operations. 
• The Manager is responsible for leading efforts to assure effective workflow process design for clinical documentation interventions which promote accurate and timely documentation. 
• In addition, coding practices must remain compliant, consistent and timely to successfully impact the net revenue to the organization.
• The key to this role is the ability to compel changes in documentation to facilitate accurate representations of patient characteristics within the medical record so that process and outcome measures based on documentation reflect performance accurately. 
• A collaborative effort must be managed and maintained with all system leaders of Coding and Clinical Documentation of Northwestern Medicine to assure continuity in system practices for the Coding and Clinical Documentation teams across regions. 

Required:  

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Five or more years in a hospital leadership position
• RHIA, RHIT or CPC
• Working knowledge of clinical performance improvement
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including presentation skills for interaction at all levels of the organization including medical staff and senior management
• Demonstrated leadership in change management
• Experience using process improvement methodologies and tools
• Working knowledge of revenue cycle and reimbursement methodologies.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree in healthcare-related profession
• Clinical background/experience

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.