Clinical Coder

The Clinical Coding service is a part of the Digital Division of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) and is responsible for extracting and codifying complex clinical information that describes a patient's diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care in a timely manner.

The ability of the UHN Group to accurate record and codify its clinical activity is fundamental to understanding the quality of its clinical services. Our coded data is used by all parts of the Group's business to deliver trusted and high-quality services to patients.

Clinical Coders are a core component of the Clinical Coding service and have a crucial supporting role in the overall management of the Group as their output directly influences income through the NHS Payment Scheme.

As a Clinical Coder you will be responsible for codifying in a timely manner complex clinical activity according to all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.

You will be expected to evidence a good grasp of National Clinical Coding Standards (evidenced by audit results and attending regular Clinical Coding Standards Refresher courses and other associated training).

You will assist the Clinical Coding Team Leads to support and mentor Associate Clinical Coders and to achieve the submission of codified data in a timely manner.

You will work openly with your Clinical Coding Team Lead and Clinical Coding Trainer to develop your clinical coding knowledge and expertise. This will be evidenced by successfully passing a national examination within two years of commencing the post to become an Accredited Clinical Coder.

In July 2021 we formed the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, bringing together the constituent organisations of Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

Our service is led by an open, transparent and dedicated leadership team who are striving to create a productive and supportive work environment which delivers a high quality codified output to accurately describe our patient's healthcare status and needs.

We support flexible working arrangements including remote working.

You will be well supported to develop yourself professionally.

You will be supported to become comfortable with working to an Agile framework as a member of the Digital Division.

Your quality as a coder will be improved by a well-established Clinical Coding Quality Assurance function.

You will be able to input meaningfully to the direction of travel and cultural development of our growing team.

Main Duties
- With the support of experienced colleagues extract, analyse and codify complex clinical information describing a patient’s diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care using ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications.
- Ensure codified data is of high quality and accurate i.e., in line with all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.
- Ensure codified data is entered into the Patient Administration System (PAS) in a timely manner i.e., within defined local and national timescales.
- Where required work with other disciplines of staff who are necessary to the successful completion of accurate clinical coding, i.e., clinicians, providing and receiving complex information as appropriate.
- Communicate complex coding rules to a range of staff involved in the coding process; medical, clinical and administrative staff, Senior Managers and external agencies, e.g. Coroner’s Office as appropriate.
- Work with Health Intelligence colleagues to ensure high standards of data quality of various data items e.g., consultant, speciality, date of admission is achieved as evidenced by quality metrics such as the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI).
- With the support of the Clinical Coding Team Leader and Accredited Clinical Coders, mentor new team members, or less experienced team members, supporting and guiding as appropriate.
- Understand and adhere to the department’s Clinical Coding Policy/Procedure document.

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