Clinical Coding Specialist

Business Unit: Discovery Health

Function: Clinical

Date: 11 Apr 2025

Discovery – Health

Clinical Coding Specialist

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About Clinical Coding Intelligence

Clinical Coding Intelligence’s purpose is to deliver world class clinical coding intelligence and strategic application to any area of the Group’s business in which clinical data (diagnoses, procedures/interventions, pharmaceuticals etc) is represented in standardised terminology coded format. This skillset is globally rare and relies on multiple years of experience and exposure to international standards, principles and world-class terminology organisations. This is further pivoted on the ability to discern where efficiencies can be gained and intelligence distilled within the most valuable currency in modern-day healthcare, that being good quality clinical data.

Key Purpose

To maintain full responsibility and accountability for all clinical coding/terminology initiatives and business requirements for the Discovery/Vitality Group including but not limited to Discovery Health and Amplify Health

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

To ensure regulatory compliance to industry coding standards as they apply to each geographical region
To ensure appropriate use of coding schemas (according to national and international guidelines) towards collecting high quality clinical data for the strategic support of benefits/limits, disease profiling, analytics and the development of critical risk management tools
To ensure that clinical codes facilitate effective systems and operational processes, across/between all business areas, as well as with external partners
To ensure continued upskilling within the Group of this scarce specialist skill, ensuring business continuity and stimulating leading edge coding innovations
To continue to build on (and actively contribute to) the Discovery/Vitality Group’s reputation as a globally recognised Clinical Coding Centre of Excellence
To partner with international terminology and academic institutions to stay abreast of, and contribute to, international coding initiatives
To represent the Coding Intelligence team across all relevant internal business areas, as well as externally to clients and terminology organisations
To actively contribute to strategic decisions related to Clinical Coding in support of the Group’s business objectives Implementation: projects, initiatives and organisational changes;

Personal Attributes and Skills

Values Driven
Optimistic
Learns on the Fly
Resilient
Instils Trust
People Savvy
Drives Results
Problem Solver
Strategic thinker
Stakeholder Management

Technical Skills or Knowledge

Written and Verbal Communication
Presentation Skills
Attention to detail
Analytical skills
Project Management
Negotiation Skills
MS Office
Clinical Coding Expertise/Skills in International Classifications and Terminologies

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in a medical capacity (e.g. Nursing, Physiotherapy, Clinical Technology) is essential
Additional qualification within the field of Health Informatics (Advantageous)
International coding accreditation such as CPC (Certified Professional Coder) with AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) or CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) with AHIMA (Advantageous)

Work Experience

10 years working experience in similar or same role
Strategic experience within a clinical coding environment, particularly in the field of health insurance

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.