Senior Specialist Clinical Coder | Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

You will be involved with maintaining the high quality of clinically coded data at LTH by providing cover over all sites which includes both on site and remote patterns of working.

To provide Clinical Coding expertise in several specialty areas, to department and Trust staff.

To provide maximum coverage and high quality clinically coded information within the Clinical Coding Department and in line with national and local standards, in accordance with Trust deadlines.

To be accountable for the accurate translation of medical information, and therefore the quality of data produced, by responsibility for maintaining current and appropriate knowledge.

To use the ICD10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems - 10thRevision) and OPCS classifications to appropriately assign codes to admitted patient care episodes in order to support service and management information requirements, along with the Payment by Results (PbR) process.

To ensure Coding deadlines are met, in accordance with SUS submission timetable.

To work as a productive member of a pro-active team to ensure optimal efficiency for provision of an outstanding Coding Service to the Trust.

This role is mentally demanding requiring long periods of concentration in a highly pressured and changeable work environment.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a centralised Clinical Coding Department, made up of the Manager, Assistant Manager, Trainer, Auditors, Specialist Coders, Coders (including trainees) and Clerical Assistants.

We cover a wide variety of clinical specialties, spilt down into specialist teams, through which there is a rotation of Coders in practice.

We encourage staff development and engagement within the team, with clinical engagement being an important part of each senior staff member's role.

CODING

· Accurate abstraction, translation, and input of information from source documents into diagnostic and procedural codes using ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications.

· Liaise with clinicians and departments as appropriate to ensure coding requirements are fulfilled in accordance with national and local standards.

· Clinically code episodes of admitted patient care for the achievement of SUS submission deadlines and in support of the PbR process.

· Improve the quality of coded data by validating specialist areas on a regular basis, providing feedback to department Auditors / Trainer, department Manager and Divisional Managers or Clinicians, as appropriate.

WORKFLOW

· Plan and coordinate workloads to ensure compliance with SUS submission deadlines.

· Identify and evaluate any problem areas regarding the availability of source documents or accuracy of coding.

· Supervise coding staff as required in support of the Assistant Manager.

· Provide cover for peers in the structure as required.

· Act as supervisor for clerical staff and on-site leader for the team, as required.

DEVELOPMENT

· Provide support for staff development through the appraisal process, as required.

· Responsible for maintaining expert knowledge of specialist areas and identifying own development needs.

· Responsible for up-to-date knowledge of coding standards, local policies, and clinical specialties

· Commitment to travelling to and providing feedback from external workshops.

· Support the development of Coders and Trainees

COMMUNICATION

· Become a credible Clinical Coding Lead for the Trust and influence clinician practice with regards to documentation in the clinical record

· Responsible for giving expert advice to Trust staff of all levels and assisting the department management team with corporate queries.

· Make constructive suggestions for service improvement and contribute ideas to improve internal processes.

· Effective communication with a range of staff from other departments within this and other Trusts and constructive management of barriers

· Responsible for effective clinical engagement in specialist fields

OTHER

· Retrieve and collate data from source documents in order to comply with requirements of the Advancing Quality programme.

· Mentor AQ coders as necessary, deal with queries or issues that arise and attend external workshops with regards to the Advancing Quality programme.

· Report errors on the Harris Flex, Evolve and Medicode computer systems.

· Undertake income generation and quality checks provided by internal or external reports.

· Perform any other duties which are commensurate with the responsibility levels of the role.

The opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed individual to fill the role of Senior Specialist Clinical Coder here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTH)

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is dedicated to providing a first-class service to the department and Trust. As such you will need to be extremely organised, focused, and willing to develop your skills. In return, we can offer rewarding experiences and the ability to make a positive difference to service delivery.

You will be involved with the direction of workflow, mentoring / supervision of staff, the achievement of deadlines, and promotion of the importance of Clinical Coding to the Payment by Results and local / national reporting processes.

As a Senior Specialist Clinical Coder, you will have extensive knowledge of A&P, Medical Terminology and Coding Classifications. You will be experienced in coding within an acute Trust setting covering a wide variety of specialities: Medicine, Vascular, Surgery and Pain Management, amongst others. You will be ACC qualified or willing to gain on your commencement in post.