Job Summary
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to recruit a Trainee Clinical Coder to join our team of talented and experienced clinical coders. This is a permanent, full-time position which includes on-the-job training to become a qualified clinical coder.
The successful applicant will become a member of the Cross Bay Clinical Coding Team within the Trust. Working in a dynamic, digitally enabled environment, they will work to clinically code activity across all 3 sites including Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital. They will primarily be responsible for the timely and accurate coding of hospital activity but will also participate in mortality reviews, focused specialty training and improvement, mentoring of trainee coders and raising the profile of good quality clinically coded data within the organisation.
The ideal candidate will possess excellent analytical and judgement skills, be proficient in the use of computers and technology and be able to autonomously manage their own workload. As part of the role, they will need to learn detailed medical terminology and human anatomy and have the ability to liaise with all levels of NHS staff. They must be willing to study for the Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) qualification within an agreed period of time. This consists of two parts, a Practical examination and a Theory examination. Coders who attain this qualification are then upgraded to Band 5.
Main Duties of the Job
Clinically coded data is used to record hospital activity for financial accountability purposes. Diseases and other health information can be extracted, measured and monitored in order to inform service planning and development, with the ultimate aim of improving the health and health care of the users of the Trust's services.
Clinical Coders are responsible for the accurate and timely recording of clinical data to support the Trust's clinical and business requirements and for regional and National Health Service statistics.
The post holder will be required to work as a member of a team to provide an efficient clinical coding service working to established systems and procedures.
They will screen medical records, discharge summaries and other data sources to extract clinical information relevant to a patient's episode of care and turn this into structured diagnostic and procedure data using International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) and Office of the Population of Censuses and Surveys (OPCS 4) coding standards.
They will also communicate and liaise effectively with clinicians, nursing staff, other professionals and departments, both internal and external, across all specialties.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* In-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology and daily use of medical terminology
* Experience in working in a health care environment
* Knowledge of the importance of Confidentiality, Data Protection Act and Caldicott
* Knowledge and experience inputting data into the Trust's Lorenzo system
Desirable
* Experience and knowledge of the standard operating procedures of other departments and clinical specialties within the Trust.
* Experience in the use of the Trust's Electronic Patient Record (EpR) system
Education
Essential
* Minimum A level qualification or equivalent qualification or equivalent knowledge
Desirable
* Qualification in a science or equivalent knowledge
* Qualification in Medical Terminology (AMSPAR or equivalent)
Training
Essential
* Availability to attend a Clinical Coding standards course, within 6 months of appointment
* Willing to undergo intense training in the rules and conventions of Clinical coding
Desirable
* Previously undertaken intensive training and attained a high level of competency from this training.
Skills, Ability and Knowledge
Essential
* Ability and skill to undertake the study required to gain the Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) exams by passing the National Clinical Coding qualification (UK) at the level of 90% for the Practical Exam and 60% for the Theory exam
* Able to use Microsoft applications i.e. Teams, Word, Excel
* Ability to work to a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
* Ability to communicate with colleagues at different levels i.e. multi-disciplinary teams
Desirable
* Knowledge of the uses of clinically coded data
* Knowledge of the mechanism of how the Trust receives payment through Clinically coded data
Personal Qualities
Essential
* Ability to work on own initiative to prioritise and plan workloads
* Able to work accurately under pressure to meet deadlines
* Effective and supportive Team player
* Ability to maintain and develop own skills and knowledge
Desirable
* Ability and experience in working in a team, possibly liaising with colleagues across other sites and delivering the expected level of attainment as part of that team, on a sustained and continuous basis
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer Details
Employer Name
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
Address
Cross Bay
Lancaster/Barrow-in-Furness
LA9 7RG
Employer's Website #J-18808-Ljbffr