Physician Billing Educator

As a Physician Billing Educator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, your main responsibilities include conducting coding and billing education, developing training resources and presentations, collaborating with leadership to enhance provider education, and responding to coding inquiries. You'll be key in ensuring that our healthcare providers are up-to-date on coding policies and procedures, which is vital for our operational success.

To be eligible for the Physician Billing Educator position at Lurie Children’s, candidates should have a minimum of an associate degree—preferably a bachelor’s degree—and must hold a coding certification such as CCS, CPC, or similar. Additionally, a strong background with at least five years in coding and three years in auditing is essential, alongside excellent communication and organizational skills.

The Physician Billing Educator at Lurie Children’s collaborates with healthcare providers by designing specialized education programs that address annual updates in coding, including CPT and ICD-10 codes. This role involves working closely with department leaders to develop customized educational plans and ensuring that all providers have the resources required to enhance their billing practices and accurately document services provided.

Working as a Physician Billing Educator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital offers numerous benefits, including a competitive salary, a comprehensive rewards package, generous PTO, and health insurance options. Additionally, you’ll be part of a meaningful cause, collaborating with a team dedicated to providing exceptional care to our pediatric patients.

Success as a Physician Billing Educator at Lurie Children’s relies on a set of skills that include a strong understanding of medical coding and billing practices, proficiency in coding resources, excellent communication abilities, and a knack for developing engaging educational materials. The ability to translate complex coding concepts into understandable terms for healthcare providers is crucial for this role.

In answering this question, it's important to detail your hands-on experience with coding systems like CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS. Discuss any certifications you hold and any specific instances where your coding knowledge positively impacted a project or audit. Be prepared to also mention the coding resources you are familiar with and how you have used them in previous roles.

When prioritizing tasks for multiple education projects, I assess deadlines, the urgency of each project, and the impact on the team. I typically use tools like project management software to keep everything organized, ensuring clear communication with collaborators. Sharing an example where this approach proved effective in past work can help strengthen your answer.

For this question, think of an example where clear, concise communication was key. It's vital to show that you approached the situation delicately, focusing on facts and offering supportive resources. Highlighting your ability to navigate challenging conversations while maintaining provider relationships is crucial.

To guarantee that my coding education stays current, I regularly engage with professional organizations, attend coding workshops, and subscribe to updates from relevant regulatory bodies. By continuously researching and adapting my materials based on these changes, I can provide the most relevant and accurate training.

When crafting training materials, I prioritize clarity and engagement. Utilizing visuals alongside written content enhances learning retention. Additionally, I seek feedback from participants to improve future sessions. Demonstrating your familiarity with adult learning principles can also be beneficial.

When faced with resistance, I approach the conversation with empathy and a focus on collaboration. I encourage open dialogue, listen to their concerns, and provide data or support to clarify the importance of the new practices. Share an example of a past experience where you successfully navigated resistance.

I prefer utilizing coding tools like Encoder Pro and 3M. Additionally, I believe in leveraging the electronic medical records (Epic) system for documentation improvements. Be specific about how these tools have made your work easier, providing examples where possible.

Effectiveness can be assessed through feedback surveys post-training, observing provider performance in coding accuracy, and tracking the decrease in coding-related denials. Be prepared to discuss a specific case where you modified a program based on feedback and the results of that modification.

Express your passion for enhancing pediatric care through improved coding education, mentioning Lurie Children’s long-standing commitment to excellence. Share a personal connection or admiration for their values and mission, reinforcing your alignment with their goals.

In my role, I would support diversity and inclusion initiatives by ensuring that educational materials reflect diverse examples and perspectives. Additionally, I would actively promote an inclusive learning environment where every provider feels valued and empowered to contribute ideas and feedback.