Administrative Specialist III - Medical Records

Public Health – Seattle and King County is seeking to hire an Administrative Specialist III (Release of Information Specialist) position within the Community Health Services (CHS) Division. This Career Service position will follow established procedures to process responses to all routine release of information (ROI) requests and release health care records in a timely manner for our Public Health Clinics. The person in this position must ensure adherence to federal, state, and Public Health rules, regulations, and procedures related to release of protected health information (PHI). This position will be a part of the process of scanning outside medical records.

Public Health – Seattle and King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. 

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

The schedule for this position is Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This position is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

Work Location

Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98007 and may require travel to various Public Health Centers.

• Use experience, independent judgment and clinical and health information decision making skills to follow established procedures for processing and tracking the release of health care records including reviewing records for readiness to release, redacting as needed, photocopying appropriate documents and sending documents to requestor.
• Verify and evaluate the adequacy of requests received for protected health information to ensure that the request meets the requirements established by HIPAA regulations and Public Health policies.
• Retrieve patient record(s) and identify those documents that are consistent with the authorization ensuring that only the minimally necessary documents are duplicated and released.
• Prepare patient record for re-filing after copies are prepared and updates chart logging system accordingly.
• Assure proper and timely entry of all requests into the release of information logging system, meet timelines for release of health care information and verify that releases are valid.
• Inform CHS Health Records Coordinator of unusual circumstances as appropriate to determine action and follow-up.
• Collaborate with CHS Health Records Coordinator as needed preparing all releases for non-continuity of care purposes and ensure all legal and government releases are coordinated through the Compliance Office.
• Provide status reports on milestones as requested. 
• Scan outside documents into the Electronic Health Record
• Serve as technical resource to Public Health managers, supervisors, and employees about release of health care records.
• Respond to and resolve requestor problems or complaints regarding release of health care records.
• Other duties as assigned.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Demonstrated current knowledge, experience and background in processing health information releases.
• Ability to demonstrate application of health records management and maintenance principles in both paper and electronic formats.
• Demonstrated ability to interact in a professional manner with a variety of internal and external customers in a flexible and accommodating way.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with patients, staff, and providers.
• Knowledge of various filing systems, including terminal digit and other health information management operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology.
• Demonstrated current knowledge of State and Federal Health Information Privacy laws and management principals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement protocols for managing, tracking and coordinating release of information processes.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems within the division, to think creatively and work with groups on a team approach to solve problems.
• Knowledge of principles of customer service and satisfaction; demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of individuals.
• Proven skill in handling and managing a number of projects or multiple tasks simultaneously and working under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communications.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an expert adviser to internal and external customers regarding release of health care records.
• Washington State Driver's License and/or the ability to travel throughout Seattle and King County to areas with limited or no public transportation in a timely manner.
• Ability to be flexible to provide support, to any CHS HIM team as needed.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, & Word.
• Ability to move up to 25 pounds, bend, twist and stretch in order to move boxes and retrieve health records. 

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired):

• Bachelor's degree in health information management or a related field or an equivalent combination of experience and training/education.
• Medical record/health information management experience in an outpatient health care setting with at least some exempt level of ROI experience.
  
  
  

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

This Career Service opportunity is open to all qualified applicants.

Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. 
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Union Membership

This position is represented by PROTEC 17

Contact

For questions about the application process, contact Christina Jamerson at cjamerso@kingcounty.gov. 

Salary : $30 - $38