Clinical Data Abstractor - Surgery - Hackensack Meridian Health

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At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Reporting to the Manager of Bariatric Surgery, the Clinical Data Abstractor is a high-performing individual who is responsible for detailed medical record review and abstraction of clinical data required for quality measures reporting and/or departmental registries. The Clinical Data Abstractor supports patient safety and quality improvement efforts through accurate reporting of compliance to defined metrics and collaborates with departmental team members to facilitate improved patient outcomes.

A day in the life of a Clinical Data Abstractor at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Performs medical record review and abstracts a large volume of clinical case records to support quality improvement and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Manages the overall record retrieval process for collecting numerous complex data elements from individual patient records according to measure specifications and project requirements.
• Completes all data input, error report analysis and correction, resolution of errors related to data entry, and submission of data. Meets all deadlines. Maintains meticulous records and provides appropriate correspondence.
• Ensures the integrity and accuracy of information collected and entered into the data collection system and is accountable for their work.
• Responsible for reporting data and variances to departments and/or committees within the hospital during monthly meetings.
• Identifies opportunities for performance improvement based on reliable data trending. Makes recommendations based on recognition and analysis of gaps in documentation.
• Assesses potential problems affecting the data collection process and coordinates follow-up of problem resolution with the team and/or manager. .
• Learns and understands the varied databases and project related terminology. Participates on all educational sessions and/or webinars.
• Maintains clinical quality measurement knowledge through self-development and keeps current on all specification changes relevant to assigned project(s). Communicates any measure requirement changes to appropriate staff.
• Serves as an expert and resource to professional staff and provides education to physician leaders, nursing, and other team members as needed.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Associate's degree in a healthcare related field.
• Minimum 2 years experience performing medical record reviews and data abstractions for CMS, Joint Commission quality measures, and/or clinical registries.
• Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.
• Experience or knowledge of ICD-10 coding.
• Proficiency in Google suite applications.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to work well with all levels of staff.
• Strong skills in analytical methodologies, understanding of databases, and/or spreadsheet, technical writing, quantitative analysis and/or use of statistical principles.
• Strong critical thinking skills with ability to handle changing work environment and prioritize activities based on department needs.
• Detail-oriented, committed to high quality data abstraction, meets quality and productivity standards. Able to maintain an accuracy score that meets department requirements.
• Ability and willingness to be cross-trained and become proficient in multiple clinical domains that require clinical abstraction services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• LPN/RN or Bachelor's degree.
• Prior experience in abstraction with core measures and/or registries (i.e. MBSQIP, NTDB/TQIP, ACS NSQIP).
• Experience working with EPIC, highly preferred. 

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

• LPN or RN license; RHIT or CHDA certification.

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!