The Clinical Coding Department is responsible for analysing and abstracting all inpatient and daycase activity, within the acute healthcare setting, utilising the ICD-10-AM coding classification.  This data must be captured accurately and efficiently on the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry System (HIPE), ensuring adherence with national coding deadlines.  The purpose of this department is to provide assurances that all clinical activity is recorded within the standardised controls and procedures operated in accordance with international best practice, and the Healthcare Pricing Office (HPO). 

The HIPE database is multifunctional, including:

• Underpins the Activity Based Funding (ABF) model
• Operational and service provision decision making
• Clinical audit and analysis
• Epidemiological study
• Underpins the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) programmes
• Key Performance Indicators and Hospital Metrics monitoring.

The work in this role is diverse and involves interaction with all services in the hospital setting.  Close liaison with Clinicians, Management, Administrative Staff and Nursing all enhance the role and allows the post holder to ensure that the HIPE database gives an accurate reflection of the hospital inpatient and day case activity.  Interaction with national bodies, i.e. HPO, NOCA, Special Delivery Unit (SDU) and other external software providers, is also a large factor in the post.

This campaign will run in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).

The CPSA is responsible for establishing the principles that should be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in the CPSA Code of Practice. The Code outlines the standards that should be adhered to at each stage of the selection process and sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates should they be unhappy with a selection process.

The CPSA Code of Practice can be accessed via https://www.cpsa.ie/.

Salary scale Grade V as of 01/10/2022- 46,407 47,853 49,298 50,747 52,205 53,906 55,610 LSIs

General Inquires to Martina Gibbons- Martina.Gibbons2@hse.ie

• The RCSI Hospital Group includes the following hospitals
• Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9
• Cavan General Hospital, Cavan
• Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Louth County Hospital, Dundalk,
• Monaghan General Hospital, Monaghan
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
• Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 15

The Academic Partner for the Group is the RCSI

RCSI Hospital Group provides a national service and a regional service to Dublin and the North East and is committed to the provision of world-class care, exceptional clinical services with respect and compassion.

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown is a major teaching hospital providing a range of acute medical and surgical services, day care, outpatient, diagnostic and support services.  Emergency services are provided on a 365-day, 24 hour basis.  Multi-disciplinary teams representative of medical, nursing, allied health professionals, management and general support staff play a pivotal role in the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of these services.  The hospital has a current bed complement of >300 beds.

The hospital is affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) for medical education, to Dublin City University (DCU) for nursing education and to University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the Institute of Technology for allied health professional education.

Connolly Hospital is one of 8 hospitals in the RCSI Hospitals Group covering a population of over 800,000 people.  Connolly Hospital’s Catchment Population of over 331,000 covers Dublin West, North Kildare and South Meath.

Operations

• Ensure timely and accurate coding of all discharges in line with ASC and ICS Clinical Coding Standards within the allocated deadlines.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency and completeness using all quality control tools available, including HCAT, Checker and PICQ to validate data quality. 
• Correction of all coding queries returned to the Hospital from the HPO and PICQ.
• Validation and reconciliation of daily downloads and patient information systems.
• Work closely with Hospital and Group Clinical Coding Manager on any data quality improvement measures including, HCAT audits, round table audits and training workshops.
• Attending training courses/workshops in the HPO, virtually or in person ensuring awareness of any developments within clinical coding classifications.
• Undertake training based on the feedback of audit both internal and external of the HIPE team.
• Assist and support the induction, training and support of new coders.
• Generation of regular and ad hoc reports from HIPE Reporter as and when required in conjunction with the Clinical Coding Manager.
• Maintain effective communication with Clinical Coding Manager and Team.
• In conjunction with the Clinical Coding Manager identify areas for improvement including but not exclusive to
• Appropriate data collection of hospital activity in line with HPO guidelines.
• Chart path flow
• Documentation quality
• Keeping up to date with all circulars relating to coding practices and ensuring that any recommendations are implemented.
• Providing cross cover during holiday and or other leave in the Department.
• Individual responsibility to ensure the confidentiality of patient data is maintained at all times in line with GDPR and local data protection policies.
• Liaising with
• Colleagues on the Clinical Coding team in order to ensure the complete and timely collection of all data.
• HPO to address any data or activity queries.
• IT Department to ensure efficient operation of the HIPE software.
• Medical records, medical secretaries and individual teams concerning any difficulties with clinical documentation relating to coding queries.
• Clinicians, nurses and hospital management developing awareness and high quality data that can underpin ABF, clinical audit, financial and service provision analysis.
• Embrace change and implement any new initiatives that would enhance the HIPE Clinical Coding function to ensure accuracy and completeness of data coded in conjunction with colleagues.
• Any other duties with regard to the office as may be assigned from time to time.

Communications

• To understand and be able to explain the importance of HIPE data and its impact on ABF.
• To facilitate clear discussions with the Clinical Coding Manager /RCSI Group Clinical Coding Manager, hospital personnel, including clinicians and external bodies such as HPO/NOCA on matters regarding HIPE.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

Have obtained a pass (Grade D) in at least five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Leaving Certificate Examination, including Mathematics and English or Irish1. Candidates should have obtained at least Grade C on higher level papers in three subjects in that examination.

or

Have completed a relevant examination at a comparable standard in any equivalent examination in another jurisdiction.

or

Hold a comparable and relevant third level qualification of at least level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework maintained by Qualifications and Quality Ireland, (QQI).

Note1: Candidates must achieve a pass in Ordinary or Higher level papers. A pass in a foundation level paper is not acceptable.  Candidates must have achieved these grades on the Leaving Certificate Established programme or the Leaving Certificate Vocational programme.  The Leaving Certification Applied Programme does not fulfil the eligibility criteria.

And

Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the office.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.  

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants.

* Public Servants not affected by this legislation:

Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age.

Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Post Specific Requirements

Hold the following Professional Qualifications and Experience:

• Significant experience of clinical coding including working in a hospital setting with practical coding experience e.g. extraction of appropriate information from charts and application of clinical codes from a recognised clinical coding scheme e.g. ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS.
• Knowledge of the HIPE portal and its functions, including HCAT and the HIPE Reporter.
• Evidence of attending on-going clinical coding training courses up to specialist level e.g. certification or confirmation of attendance at coding courses required.

Desirable Criteria

Certification in Clinical Coding

HIMMA certification in Clinical Coding

Experience in applying ICD-10-AM classification

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

 Speaks and writes clearly, fluently to both individuals and groups: communicates in a manner that will persuade, convince and influence others, in order to motivate, inspire or encourage them to follow a particular course of action.

Technical & Professional Expertise

 Has a command over technical / professional skills and knowledge required within the job holders role and continues to upskill to maintain high professional standards and continuous professional development requirements.

Analytical Skills & Attention to detail

Uses a logical reasoning process to break down and analyse information and date to support effective decision making and other related processes.

Is thorough and precise when accomplishing a task showing concern for all aspects of the job: developing detailed plans: accurately checking processes and tasks.

Results Driven & Accountable

 Focuses on delivering results; always concerned with achieving or surpassing goals and/or recognised standards of performance.

Teamwork

 Has the ability and desire to work cooperatively with others; collaborating to get the job done.

Provides support to colleagues to help develop a strong and cohesive team ethos.

Willing to participate as a member of the team.

Commitment to Quality & Risk Management

The ability to focus on understanding stakeholder’s needs and expectations and to respond effectively and efficiently to them.

Has a good knowledge of and is committed to offer a quality service through the achievement of goals, accreditation standards, other organisation/department standards and risk management frameworks and guidelines.

This Job Description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the position and is subject to regular review and amendment. The role holder will be required to be flexible in this position and is expected to facilitate working additional hours on occasion, when requested.

The RCSI Hospital Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer.