Job Summary:

The Director of Health Information and Practice Management is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational management, and compliance oversight of Physician Practice Administration (PPA) operations and Health Information Management (HIM) functions. This role ensures that both departments function efficiently while aligning with regulatory standards, financial goals, and organizational objectives.  The director will work closely with department leaders, medical staff, and executive leadership to optimize workflows, improve patient care processes, and maintain compliance with industry regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and provide direction to all direct reports and teams in the HIM and PPA departments while fostering a culture of collaboration, professionalism, celebration, and accountability. Ensure the effective recruitment, training, development, and retention of staff to maintain a high-performing team. Develop and manage budgets for each department, ensuring fiscal responsibility; review and analyze financial reports, identifying areas for cost savings and revenue growth. In collaboration with executive leadership, develop and execute strategic goals and objectives to improve operational performance and achieve established metrics. Monitor departmental performance metrics, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed. Ensure implementation of best practices for department operations to optimize patient throughput, minimize wait times, and maximize productivity while enhancing patient satisfaction, safety, and quality of care. Monitor changes and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and accreditation requirements as it relates to both departments; implement changes as needed to maintain compliance. Develop, implement, and maintain policies and work instructions for assigned departments. Oversees coding and classification of medical diagnoses and procedures to ensure accuracy and compliance with billing, reimbursement, and regulatory requirements. Promote the importance of accurate health information and its role in patient care, compliance, operational efficiency, and utilization of data for reporting and decision-making across the organization. Collaborates with physicians and medical directors to support clinical and administrative needs. Serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding health information management; holds the role of custodian of the medical record. Serves as a key stakeholder in the implementation and optimization of the organization’s EHR system, with the goal of integrating new technologies and innovative practices to enhance clinical and business operations. Ensure the integration of health information systems with other clinical and administrative systems to enhance care coordination and data accuracy. Oversees the maintenance and retention of medical records in both paper and electronic formats, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data. Chair or member of various committees as assigned to include but not limited to: Forms Committee, chair UR/Medical Records Committee, member Privacy Oversight Committee, member Clinical Quality Validation Analysis (CQVA), member Practice Committee, member Provider-related committees, as requested Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in health information management, business administration, or a related field. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential required. 7-10 years of experience in healthcare In-depth knowledge of healthcare regulations, health information technology, coding, payer systems, clinical operations, and medical records management. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with physicians, clinical staff, and senior leadership. Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize, lead change, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field.

Patient Interaction: No Contact 

Infection Control: Initial and Ongoing training in dealing with infection control. Trainings could include, but are not limited to, blood-borne pathogens, bodily fluids and bio-hazardous materials as it applies to your daily work environment.

HIPAA: This position will have access to the following Protected Health Information in order to carry out the duties related to their position at Hays Medical Center based on the following criteria:

Primary – required (routine) to do the job;

Secondary – required for the job, but mostly be the exception; and

None – no approved access

Description of Information

Primary:

Patient Demographic Information (information used to identify a person): Name, Date of Birth, Address, Race, Marital Status, Religion.

Financial Information/Insurance (information related to insurance, billing and payment): Billing Information, Payer Name, Payer ID, Account Balances, Plan Elements Covered, Payment Information, Payment Rates.

Coding Information (clinical information that is in (alpha) numeric format): ICD-9 Codes, Rev Codes, CPT Codes.

Clinical Information (information that describes a patient’s health status): Diagnosis, Reports/Medical Notes, Test Results, Problem List, Procedures, History and Physical.