HIM Director

Our Mission

All of us, for each of you, every time.

Our Vision

Together, serving as the trusted regional healthcare partner.

Our Values 

Listen~Love~Respect~Excel~Innovate

POSITION SUMMARY

The Health Information Management (HIM) Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the hospital’s Health Information Management and medical records functions. Oversees the integrity, accuracy, security, accessibility, and timely management of patient health information in compliance with federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, and organizational policies. The Director oversees medical records, coding and clinical documentation, release of information, data integrity, information governance, record retention, privacy, and regulatory compliance. The role serves as a key HIM resource to executive leadership, medical staff, clinical departments, Quality, Compliance, IT, Revenue Cycle, and other organizational partners.. Monitors departmental performance, regulatory compliance, and key performance indicators while identifying opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency. Develops and manages departmental budgets, staffing, and performance while fostering a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement. Serves as a subject matter expert on health information regulations, privacy, documentation, and medical record requirements. Promotes the secure and effective use of health information to support quality patient care, regulatory compliance, and the financial health of Samaritan.

HIPAA Privacy Officer: Oversees the organization’s HIPAA Privacy Program, including privacy policy implementation, workforce education, complaint and incident investigation, compliance monitoring, breach-response coordination, and ongoing guidance to professionals on the appropriate use and disclosure of PHI.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES/LEADERSHIP PILLARS

• Relational Leadership: Make positive effective relationships a priority.

1. 1. Relationship Orientated; developing and fostering relationships through respect, open communication, trust and partnership.
   2. Developing the campus to serve the region
   3. Valuing patients, families, employees, community, physicians, & partners
   4. Volunteerism (Ambassador for Samaritan) and participates in community events
   5. Active participation, representing the interests of Samaritan, in professional associations
   6. Strengthening relationships - by purposeful and systematic rounding with timely follow up and follow through, employee rounding, inter-departmental rounding, and doing stop light reports.
   7. Elevating Gratefulness - by doing thank you notes to employees, utilizing the peer-to-peer Recognition Program(s) and the DAISY Award.
   8. Promoting Wellbeing

• Strategic: Champions of the vision and strategies of Samaritan
  1. Active involvement in the planning process
  2. Inspiring alignment and development of operational practices to achieve business goals
  3. Setting & Achieving Goals – through Strategic Plan update/affirmation, participating in organizational goal setting, setting department goals, conducting monthly accountability meetings, and honoring vital time.
  4. Building partnerships to maximize Samaritan achievement
  5. Business Planning
  6. Consistency and accountability

• Operations: Effectively oversees and directs day-to-day operations.
  1. Efficiency
  2. Staffing and work assignments
  3. Patient Care
  4. Work Flow
  5. Resources/equipment/materials
  6. Keeping professional knowledge and skills current to make operations work effectively
  7. Project and Process Management
  8. Improving Communication – through communication boards, huddles and department meetings

• Human Resources: Inspires employees and creates a work environment of open communication, respect, teamwork and accountability.
  1. Develops and fosters an employer of choice culture
  2. Attracts, develops and retains talent
  3. Evaluates competency and education
  4. Employee Relations
  5. Recognition
  6. Coaching
  7. Discipline and counseling
  8. Expectations and accountability
  9. Involvement and communication
  10. Relationship, connection and employee engagement
  11. Employee safety and security
  12. Legal, regulatory and policy compliance
  13. Giving & Receiving Feedback (aka Direct Dialogue) – through informal feedback (Compliments & Callouts), formal feedback –(annual employee evaluations), and by Empowering/training/supporting employees to provide peer-to-peer feedback (compliments & callouts)
  14. Effective Hiring & Onboarding – through peer panel interviewing, behavior based interviewing, ensuring all new hires attend organizational orientation, and though new employee rounding (day 30/60/90).

• Finance: Responsible for Samaritan overall financial health by consistently and proactively managing productivity and cost containment for department.
  1. Demonstrated through – Budgeting (annual and ongoing), optimization, and utilizing benchmarking (Samaritan and industry).
  2. Responsible for reporting audit goals, resource management and fiscal stewardship, maximization of productivity and cost containment, revenue generating opportunities, and monthly operational review.

• Performance Improvement, Safety and Service: Inspires and assures an environment that engages staff in performance improvement, patient safety and service to others.
  1. Inspires and assures alignment with family centered patient care.
  2. Regulatory compliance (DNV, DOH, Stark, etc)
  3. Data analysis and development of appropriate initiatives
  4. Promotes best practice
  5. Active involvement in committees, teams, etc
  6. Outcome improvement through data analysis
  7. Leading Change - by adherence to standardized improvement method(s) (e.g., PDSA, Lean/A3, etc.) and/or Project Management System, surveying & improving the employee and patient experience, departments “grabbing the baton” for organization-wide improvement efforts and projects, and by leveraging stakeholder engagement/employee-driven team structures.
  8. Achieving Standards - through utilizing the Samaritan standards of behavior and positive communication standards.
• Technical / Professional Knowledge: Achieve and maintain a level of knowledge/competence in areas of responsibility to effectively and safely perform all of their duties and responsibilities; keeping abreast of current trends and development.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Education:

1. Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, Business or related field is required.

• Certification:

1. Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is required.
2. Other certification such as RHIT, CSS, CPC, CCS-P or HIM are preferred.

• Experience:

1. 5-7 years’ of previous management experience. Experience in acute care healthcare setting preferred.
2. 7-10 years of previous experience in Health Information Management and Electronic Health Records (EHR), electronic health systems and applications used to capture, maintain and utilize Patient Health Information.

• Skills/Competencies:

1. Responsible for the direction of a diverse department, requiring skills in data-driven decision-making and continuous process improvement. Health Information Management consists of the following: Document Imaging, Professional and Hospital Coding, Identity Management, Document Integrity Management, Release of Information, Content Management, and Health Information Exchange. 
2. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Articulates and presents data, information, and ideas in a clear and concise manner.
3. Remains current of new trends and best practices and incorporates into Coding, CDI and HIM practices and programs.
4. Ability to supervise a diverse staff model. Working knowledge of functional relationships between organizational departments, including Hospital and Clinic settings.
5. Ability to interface effectively through oral and written communication with staff at all levels.
6. Ability to exercise planning, organization, delegation, and follow-through skills to effectively complete the most complex technical assignments.
7. Ability to analyze and resolve problems in a timely and efficient manner.
8. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal skills.
9. Demonstrates effective delegation skills to streamline operational workflows and optimize inter-office resources.

As a Samaritan professional, you will be asked to commit to being part of a culture grounded in our Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategy that brings service and operational excellence to life each day while creating an exceptional experience for our patients, professionals, physicians, and students. Additionally, how we present ourselves matters, and adherence to our Professional Appearance Policy reflects the pride, respect, and professionalism we bring to those we serve.