Clinical Coder

Do you have some knowledge of anatomy and physiology and medical terminology?

Are you a lateral thinker/problem solver, logical and with attention to detail?

Are you educated to at least GCSE standard (or equivalent), preferably with a biology related qualification?

If so you could be just the sort of person we are looking for to join our busy Clinical Coding Department.

Gateshead Health NHS FT is looking to appoint a Clinical Coder to help us capture the clinical activity we undertake at the hospital. This will support a variety of processes within the Trust and underpins the income of the Trust. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential. The role requires long periods of VDU use.

Applicants with the National Clinical Coding Qualification will be appointed at a Band 4.

Applicants with no experience or who have not passed the National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK) will be appointed at a Band 3 and required to study for the qualification. The training to study for the NCCQ takes minimum of two years and consists of a Clinical Coding Standards Course, specialty workshops and courses and a period of supervised coding. As a trainee (non-ACC) Clinical Coder you will be automatically promoted toBand 4 when you pass the National Clinical Coding Qualification (UK).

To abstract and analyse complex clinical information from patients records and then translate this into a coded format in line with National Standards.

To ensure the timely entry of encoded data onto appropriate computer systems to meet the Trust’s requirements for statutory information and financial flows.

To use a variety of Clinical Information Systems to analyse medical information and ensure data quality for which a high level of knowledge of Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology is essential.

To observe high levels of patient confidentiality at all times.

**Agile Working**:
All our staff have a work base. However, the Trust operates a flexible agile working policy and therefore the coding team will be based on site for a proportion of the week and have the ability to work from home, if preferred, for the rest of the week on a rota basis.

The Clinical Coding team work to a flexible working policy meaning flexible start and finish times.

In the annual survey for NHS staff, we consistently rate highly as a place people would recommend others to work. In the most recent survey, 72% of our staff said they would recommend working at Gateshead.

We aim to attract and retain talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

If you are looking for challenge in the NHS, and feel you have the talent and determination to succeed in such a role, we look forward to hearing from you.

Extract and translate clinical terminology into alpha-numerical codes using the international classification of ICD-10 for diagnoses, and OPCS-4 for interventions and procedures in compliance with national guidelines for use across the Trust.

Interpret and code patient information, which is frequently of a highly sensitive and distressing nature.

Liaise with clinical and information staff to ensure queries are resolved in a timely manner;
Advise on and provide ad-hoc information on national standards and coded data as and when required to both clinical and non-clinical staff.

Identify uncoded episodes to ensure coding is conducted in a timely accurate fashion and coding deadlines are achieved.

Ensure amendments to the ICD10 / OPCS 4 classifications are made accordingly in a timely manner.

Ability to interpret and extract patient related data from case notes and electronic systems, with the skills to translate highly complex information to diagnostic and procedure codes;
Ability to implement changes to national standards and coding classifications to daily working practices in a timely manner;
Ability to identify methods to improve data accuracy and collection.

Ability to interpret and extract patient related data from case notes and electronic systems, with the skills to translate highly complex information to diagnostic and procedure codes;
Ability to implement changes to national standards and coding classifications to daily working practices in a timely manner;
Ability to identify methods to improve data accuracy and collection. Ability to communicate effectively at all levels with managerial, clinical and administrative staff both verbally and in writing;
Ability to communicate complex clinical information which may be presented in differing formats, the details of which could all be challenged for accuracy and validity e.g. patient case notes, diagnostic tests, clinical coding and audit data.

Ability to establish working relationships with a wide range of personnel.

Ability to work as part of a team.

Persuading and negotiating skills.

Establish relationships a