Clinical Coding Specialist

Position: Clinical Coding Specialist 

Department: Operations

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Job Description:

The Clinical Coding Specialist is responsible for leading and managing the clinical coding operations in IMH, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely coding of inpatient episodes and procedures in accordance with ICD-10-AM and MOH Casemix requirements. The role supports national reporting, funding, and clinical governance, with a strong focus on the complexity of psychiatric and mental health documentation. In addition, the role is responsible for driving clinical coding quality, developing staff capabilities and engaging key stakeholders to uphold high standards of data integrity and coding excellence.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to coding staff
2. Plan and allocate workload to optimise team efficiency
3. Develop staff capabilities through training and cross-skilling.
4. Oversee and perform ICD‑10‑AM and DRG coding for all inpatient discharges, including psychiatric diagnoses and associated procedures where applicable.
5. Interpret complex psychiatric and clinical documentation to assign accurate diagnostic and procedural codes.
6. Liaise closely with clinicians, including psychiatrists and multidisciplinary teams, to clarify ambiguous or incomplete documentation and support accurate clinical coding.
7. Ensure coding completeness, accuracy, and timeliness to support Casemix submissions, MOH reporting, and institutional billing requirements.
8. Support the development and alignment of local coding guidelines and interpretations, particularly in the context of mental health conditions and documentation practices.
9. Monitor undrafted discharged cases and follow up with wards and departments to ensure completion within stipulated timelines.
10. Ensure strict compliance with patient confidentiality, data protection policies, and IMH governance standards.
11. Lead and participate in internal and external coding audits, ensuring compliance with MOH and national coding standards.
12. Monitor coding productivity KPIs, including coding accuracy, turnaround time and backlogs. Ensure achievement of departmental KPIs and audit outcomes.
13. Represent IMH in external platforms such as Coding Expert Panel (CEP) discussions to address complex coding queries and contribute to national coding standards.
14. Review and enhance coding workflows and processes for efficiency and compliance
15. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen coding accuracy and improve coding turnaround time
16. Conduct monthly internal coding audits and review to ensure coding accuracy
17. Manage and respond to coding-related queries from clinical departments, particularly in relation to discharge summaries and documentation standards.
18. Work closely with supervisors and stakeholders to drive continuous improvement in coding processes, workflows, and system utilisation.
19. Support implementation and optimisation of electronic medical records (EMR) and coding systems within IMH.
20. Undertake additional duties and projects as assigned by the Reporting Officer.

Requirements:

Competency

1. Experience in clinical coding within a hospital setting is an advantage.
2. Strong understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and clinical workflows.
3. Meticulous, analytical, and able to work independently under time constraints.
4. Good communication skills for clinician engagement and documentation clarification.
5. Experience in leading a team is an advantage

Educational and Professional Requirements

1. Diploma or Degree in Health Information Management / Nursing / Allied Health or related fields and equivalent
2. AHIMA/ICD‑10 certification or equivalent training preferred.

About IMH:

The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Singapore, established in 1928, is a premier 2,000-bed psychiatric hospital nestled in Buangkok Green Medical Park, providing comprehensive mental health services across 50 inpatient wards and 7 outpatient clinics, while also playing a pivotal role in training the next generation of mental health professionals through the NHG-AHPL Residency Programme and collaborations with local academic institutions.