Job Description

Clinical Abstractor, New York City Maternal Mortality Review Committee

The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement of the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. To this end, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), FPHNYC incubates innovative public health initiatives implemented by DOHMH to advance community health throughout the city. It facilitates partnerships, often new and unconventional, between government and the private sector to develop, test, and launch new initiatives. These collaborations speed the execution of demonstration projects, effect expansion of successful pilot programs, and support rapid implementation to meet the public health needs of individuals, families, and communities across New York City.

BMIRH seeks an enthusiastic, motivated clinical abstractor to support the work of the NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). This is a part-time, temporary position located at the DOHMH office in Long Island City. Most work can be done remotely (up to 260 hours), although time is required in the office for monthly Committee meetings.

This position will report to the Deputy Director of the MMRC and work closely with the Co-Chairs of the MMRC and other members of the project team. The Clinical Abstractor will be responsible for conducting clinical abstraction of specified data, including but not limited to death certificates, birth certificates, fetal death certificates, medical and hospitalization records, autopsies and social service records on maternal deaths to write case narratives for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee based on documentation in the records. This position requires a high level of clinical responsibility, integrity, and initiative.

Maternal mortality is one of the primary markers of the health of a nation and a bellwether indicator by which both human rights and public health can be evaluated. Maternal health and well-being are critical public health concerns in NYC. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has been conducting enhanced surveillance for maternal mortality (MM) since 2001. In January 2018, in response to the ongoing maternal mortality crisis in which Black women and birthing people are at highest risk of unfair, unjust and preventable mortality due to being ignored and dismissed by medical clinicians and systems because of structural racism, purposeful disinvestment in the communities in which they reside, and other reasons associated with generational weathering and toxic stress, the Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health (BMIRH) in the Health Department convened the NYC Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) to conduct a multidisciplinary committee review of all pregnancy-associated deaths to women and birthing people residing in NYC and those living in rest-of-state who died in NYC. Each year in NYC, approximately 50 women and birthing people die from a pregnancy-associated cause. In the most recent period (2016-2020), Black non-Hispanic women and birthing people were four times more likely to die of a pregnancy-associated cause compared to White women and birthing people and six times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause.

Responsibilities:

• Complete Training and Orientation
• Take required DOHMH CITI training online course
• Receive orientation to the entire data abstraction process
• Sign and submit all data confidentiality forms as required

Abstract Maternal Mortality Records

Abstractors usually abstract up to 3 cases every month. The workload will vary by month depending upon the number of maternal deaths, the availability of maternal records and the dates of the MMRC meetings.

The Abstractor will:

• Receive a list of assigned cases with corresponding records from the Deputy Director to abstract within a specific time frame. Records may be from multiple sources including but not limited to death certificates, birth certificates, fetal death certificates, medical and hospitalization records, autopsies and social service records
• Pre-review records within 2 weeks of case assignment and notify project staff of additional necessary records requests and conflicts of interest (Clinical Abstractors are not assigned to cases occurring in facilities where they work or to cases where they have any relationship with the patient or health care clinicians involved)
• Work in partnership with MMRC Operations Team to identify opportunities for improvement in case abstraction process or workflows
• Attend CDC Maternal Mortality Review Abstractor Training on the MMRC process, key principles of record abstraction
• Attend monthly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trainings for abstractor role, when possible

Develop and Present Case Narratives to the MMRC

The Clinical Abstractor prepares a de-identified case narrative for presentation at the MMRC meeting. The case narrative is based on a standard template that provides basic key information about the chain of events leading up to the death and summarizes the case for the MMRC committee review.

The Abstractor will:

• Develop a de-identified case narrative for presentation at the MMRC meeting. These case narratives go through clinical and line-edits, then are reviewed and approved by the MMRC co-chairs prior to being presented for MMRC discussions
• Participate in in-house DOHMH reviews and quality checks of case narratives prior to MMRC meetings
• Complete case narratives to be presented to the MMRC at least one month prior to the meeting
• Attend monthly MMRC meetings in person and present maternal death case summaries, answer questions from members pertaining to the case
• Other duties as assigned to support the overall goals and mission of the department/ organization.

Requirements:

• Experience handling highly sensitive personal health information and maintaining strict confidentiality protocols
• Active clinical license, such as RN, LPN, MD, DO, NP, in relevant clinical area (e.g.) - Submission of a copy of current medical license required.
• At least 3 years of clinical experience working in obstetrics and gynecology or family medicine. Clinical experience in behavioral health is a plus.
• Demonstrated understanding of normal/abnormal processes of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care and the wide spectrum of factors that can influence maternal outcomes
• Understanding of medical terminology and the health care system in general
• Experience in medical record review, including an in-depth understanding of the organization of medical records
• Flexibility and ability to deliver high quality, concise case abstractions according to agreed upon timelines.
• Ability to show up to all meetings where abstractor cases are presented
• Strong attention to details
• Knowledge of HIPAA and confidentiality laws
• Ability to serve as an objective, unbiased storyteller; not looking to assign blame
• Demonstrated understanding of social determinants contributing to maternal mortality
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills
• Skill with word processing and data entry (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of methods to maintain database information
• Ability to work well with others, including people of diverse linguistic, cultural, or economic backgrounds
• Ability to maintain organized, accurate records

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check

This position will be hired through a staffing agency. This position does not include benefits or paid holidays.

FPHNY is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Employment with FPHNY is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment.

You must live in the New York City Tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) to be considered for a position at FPHNY.

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