Children’s Mercy Hospital

Role(s): Coding and Reimbursement Specialist; HIM Data Integrity Analyst

Focus Areas: Health Information Management, Coding and Compliance, Data Integrity, Revenue Cycle

Overall Impact at Children’s Mercy
At Children’s Mercy, I built the foundation of my career in Health Information Management. By driving improvements in coding accuracy, documentation integrity, and compliance, I ensured that clinical and administrative data could be trusted and reimbursed appropriately. These roles sharpened my understanding of the revenue cycle, compliance frameworks, and HIM operations, knowledge that continues to shape my approach to product management in healthcare AI and clinical informatics.

  • I began my career at Children’s Mercy as a Coding and Reimbursement Specialist, responsible for ensuring coding accuracy and maximizing reimbursement for outpatient services. I coded across multiple domains including laboratory, radiology, surgery, observation, emergency, and urgent care accounts.

    • Users: Billing and revenue integrity teams, payers, and compliance staff.

    • Use Cases: Applying ICD-10-CM and CPT codes, validating documentation, and ensuring accurate reimbursement.

    • Value I Brought:

      • Improved compliance by consistently applying AMA, AHIMA, and AAPC coding guidelines.

      • Enhanced accuracy and efficiency of coding processes, reducing errors in claims.

      • Proactively managed insurance denial reports and adjusted codes, directly contributing to increased revenue.

      • Collaborated with billing and revenue integrity teams to resolve discrepancies and optimize coding strategies.

      • Contributed to a $6 million increase in reimbursement revenue by reducing denials and strengthening documentation accuracy.

  • I transitioned into the role of Data Integrity Analyst, where I managed HIM processes and supported clinical documentation integrity.

    • Responsibilities:

      • Managed document processing, report review, and chart availability.

      • Processed medical staff alert lists and facilitated both birth and death certificate workflows.

      • Oversaw scanning, indexing, and release of information functions.

      • Analyzed inpatient, ambulatory, and same-day surgery documentation for accuracy.

    • Value I Brought:

      • Streamlined HIM operations by optimizing workflows for documentation and record management.

      • Strengthened compliance with hospital, state, and federal documentation regulations.

      • Improved data availability and accuracy, supporting clinicians and downstream coding processes.