MARICELA OCHOA, RHIT
Twentynine Palms,CA
Summary
Results-driven information management professional with keen ability to handle sensitive data and ensure compliance. Proven track record in managing and processing information requests with precision and adherence to privacy standards. Known for effective team collaboration, reliability, and adaptability to changing demands.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Release of Information Specialist
Datavant
07.2024 - Current
- Managed requests for medical records in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Coordinated release of information processes, ensuring timely and accurate responses to inquiries.
- Reviewed and interpreted medical documentation to determine appropriate disclosures of patient information.
- Developed and implemented standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency in record retrieval workflows.
- Reduced errors in released records by thoroughly reviewing documentation before submission.
- Increased customer satisfaction levels through prompt responses to inquiries and effective resolution of concerns.
- Actively participated in interdisciplinary team meetings, providing valuable input on release of information matters and contributing to the overall success of the organization.
- Used Cerner, HPF hubs, and Healthsource to perform data entry functions.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement by actively seeking feedback from colleagues and supervisors, incorporating suggestions into daily practices for optimal performance.
- Handled sensitive situations with professionalism and empathy, ensuring a positive experience for patients and their families during the information release process.
- Handled phone calls from attorneys, insurance companies and patients.
- Followed up with medical staff regarding missing information in patient records.
- Utilized electronic medical record systems to store, retrieve and process patient data.
- Verified accuracy of patient information in medical records.
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH-PER DIEM
HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
03.2022 - 07.2024
- Managed patient health records, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and organizational standards.
- Demonstrated strong attention to detail while cross-referencing medical records for completeness and consistency, identifying potential errors and facilitating prompt resolution.
- Identified new methods to optimize medical records management.
- Reviewed charts and flagged incomplete or inaccurate information.
- Contributed to a team-oriented work environment by collaborating closely with colleagues on various projects related to medical records management.
- Developed strong working relationships with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure accurate recordkeeping practices were upheld consistently across all departments. Follow up on physician deficiencies and/or reports for suspension.
- Responsible for completing routine medical records office work such as Release of information, answering phones, walk-in request, sorting mail, sending out request with a valid authorization or for TPO.
- Assembling, and prepping charts for scanning, indexing, organizing, and filing medical documents for future retention/destruction.
- Assisting Medical Staff with provider credentialing: initial and reinstatements.
- Assisting Radiology clerk doing filing, faxing, inputting orders for department. Other duties as they arise.
- Use of Cerner, DCS, one content, and legacy systems: IDoc and Meditech
HIM MANAGER
Eisenhower Medical Center
08.2022 - 09.2023
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and streamline workflows.
- Mentored junior managers, fostering professional growth and enhancing leadership capabilities within the organization.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Analyzed performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize resource allocation.
- Facilitated training sessions focused on best practices to improve team productivity and engagement.
HOMEMAKER/CHILDCARE
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Stay at home mom and doing childcare part-time.
STUDENT
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE(ONLINE)
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Apply biomedical knowledge to the process of clinical code assignment, analyze and communicate clinical and statistical data to improve patient care and facilitate financial planning.
- Apply and demonstrate legal, ethical, accreditation and certification standards to health information, participate in planning and implementing clinical and administrative information systems in traditional and alternative healthcare settings.
- Apply departmental and organizational standards to data storage, retrieval, retention and security, and demonstrate the ability to work effectively as an individual and collaboratively in a group to resolve health information management challenges in a changing healthcare environment.
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH
MAXIM HEALTHCARE
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Responsible for completing routine medical records office work such as ROI, scanning, organizing, indexing, and filing medical documents. Work with little or no supervision as a temp employee with UCLA, Santa Monica; and Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Beverly Hills.
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH/ROI CLERK
HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Release of information, birth clerk, answering phones, sorting mail, sending out request with a valid authorization or for TPO, assembling and prepping charts for scanning, indexing charts, and helping doctors along with other staff members to locate charts. Many other duties as they arise to help the department meet their goals and needs. HDMC is hybrid with the end result of the paper chart to be an EHR. Systems used: Meditech, IDoc, WebEMR, and centricity
MEDICAL RECORDS/CODER TECH
STANDARD TECHNOLOGY, INC.
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Medical records and coding Technician. Duties to include scanning, trained in indexing, inputting codes when sent back from outsource coder, sending out charts for audits. Printing OP encounters to a pdf file and sending them out for coding. I was able to multitask other small duties too. Trained in ALHTA, CHCS, Global Code and CCE. I have become more familiar with IP, OP, and ER specialty coding. Worked under Coding Supervisor for Vendor at Naval Hospital, 29 Palms, CA.
Education
Associates of Science - Health Information Technology
Santa Barbara City College
12.2020
Skills
- Self-motivated professional
- Team leadership
- Effective communication skills
- Experience-driven problem solving in healthcare
- Release of information
- HIPAA compliance
- Medical records management
- Data entry accuracy
- Customer service excellence
- Microsoft Productivity (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point)
- Cerner, One Content, DCS, Meditech, IDoc, WebEMR, Centricity, Epic, ALHTA, CHCS, Global code, CCE, Nextgen
- 10-key
- Type 45wpm
Affiliations
AHIMA MEMBER, CHIA MEMBER
Certification
- RHIT- AHIMA
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Release of Information Specialist
Datavant
07.2024 - Current
HIM MANAGER
Eisenhower Medical Center
08.2022 - 09.2023
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH-PER DIEM
HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
03.2022 - 07.2024
HOMEMAKER/CHILDCARE
01.2021 - 01.2022
STUDENT
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE(ONLINE)
01.2018 - 01.2020
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH
MAXIM HEALTHCARE
01.2016 - 01.2018
MEDICAL RECORDS TECH/ROI CLERK
HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER
01.2012 - 01.2016
MEDICAL RECORDS/CODER TECH
STANDARD TECHNOLOGY, INC.
01.2010 - 01.2012
Associates of Science - Health Information Technology
Santa Barbara City College