Job Description

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

• Extra-help employment has a limited term (up to 9 months).
• Health Benefits coverage may be offered.
• Shift Differentials vary per classification.

Position: Health Information Services Specialist I - Temporary

Compensation:

The estimated pay for this position is $19.2821 to $25.4239 per hour. This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses.

Definition:

Under general direction performs healthcare information support activities, which may include: forms control, records processing, chart completion, and release of information.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Health Information Services Specialist I is the first level of the Health Information Services Specialist classification series. Assignments may be made in forms control, records processing, chart completion, or release of information. This classification is distinguished from Health Information Services Specialist II in that the latter performs more responsible, complex assignments. Promotion to Health Information Services Specialist II is based upon recommendation of the department head and approval of the VP of Human Resources or his/her designee.

Essential Functions:

• Responds to requests from patients, families, and staff for information and inquiries related to patients, policies, and/or similar information; researches records discrepancies; resolves patient requests.
• Collects and processes health information, entering it into proper patient charts and information systems.
• Prepares, organizes, files, reconciles, and records a variety of healthcare data and information.
• Creates, organizes, verifies, and processes a variety of healthcare charts, files, and other documents; processes patient records by: retrieving records, maintaining chart tracking accuracy, obtaining discharge records, updating and preparing patient folders, and ordering and filing charts.
• Compiles and maintains fiscal information, updates patients account records, and prepares related reports.
• Prepares, scans and commits documents to online archive; verifies the accuracy of scanned documents with source documents; and ensures documents are properly indexed for accurate retrieval.
• Responds to requests for the release of medical information and ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations; prepares birth certificates.

Other Functions:

• Performs other related functions as required.

Employment Standards:

High School Diploma or G.E.D., and one (1) year of experience in a healthcare environment, or

High School Diploma or G.E.D., and an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to obtain the knowledge and skill to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Additional Requirements:

Some assignments may require certification of typing/keyboard speed of 40 net words per minute.

Knowledge of:

English grammar usage and spelling, customer service principles; basic filing and record keeping principles, medical terminology, HIPAA privacy practices and compliance practices, medical record file room operations.

Ability to:

Operate a variety of office machines; communicate effectively both orally and in writing sufficient to perform the essential functions; use computers and various software to accomplish work; problem solve; proofread.

Supplemental:

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

A background check may be conducted for this classification.

All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec.3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services). As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable, following a significant emergency or disaster.