Duties

The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provides subject matter expertise to Service Line Leaders, and medical center staff.
• Interprets and applies The Joint Commission standards, VA regulations and medico-legal requirements; current Federal Codes pertinent to medical records; Veterans Administration policy memoranda, directives and handbooks pertinent to health information management; ICD-CM coding principles and nomenclature and the MS-DRG system; CPT and E&M rules; medical and procedural terminology; anatomy and physiology, regulations governing confidentiality of medical records; release of information laws and statutes; records management; and any policies pertaining to VA medical records.
• Provides training for HIM, clinical and administrative staff on HIM topics.
• Performs quality improvement projects regarding HIM issues.
• Assists the CHIM or designee in preparing various presentations.
• Performs audits and analyses, preparing and presenting findings and recommendations to the CHIM, Service Line Leaders and medical staff.
• Reviews, analyzes and reports HIM performance monitors.
• Advises Principal Investigators and other clinical staff relating to methodologies of retrieving health care data for specific studies.
• Performs data retrieval for special studies as needed.
• Participates in various VAMC, VISN and national committees requiring health information management subject matter expertise.
• Performs quantitative and qualitative reviews of health record documentation to ensure all patient care data entered in the electronic health record (EHR) is accurate, timely, and completed. Adheres to established documentation requirements as outlined by The Joint Commission (TJC) regulations, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines, as well as medical-legal requirements. Serves as a liaison in the implementation of automated clinical applications pertaining to the EHR.
• Participates in facility committees and subcommittees related to health information and provides technical advice when necessary.
• Participates in training related to VHA Healthcare Information Systems such as VistA, CPRS and other software packages as they relate to HIM job functions.
• Analyzes clinical and administrative processes related to information flow. Tests and verifies software packages prior to activation in production mode.
• Coordinates with software developers in the local testing of software.

Work Schedule: Full-time; 8:00am - 4:30pm; Monday - Friday; Schedule may be adjusted based on the needs of the organization.
Telework: Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education or Experience:
(1) Experience
Three years of [creditable] experience in the field of medical records that included the preparation, maintenance, and management of [health] records and health information systems [demonstrating a knowledge of medical terminology,] medical records [procedures, medical coding, or medical, administrative, and legal requirements of health care delivery] systems.
OR,
(2) Education.
Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university [recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with a major field of study in health information management, or a related degree
with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information management or health information technology.
OR,
(3) Experience/Education Combination.
Equivalent combinations of [creditable] experience and education that equals 100 percent may be used to meet basic requirements. [For example, two years above high school from an accredited college or university, with 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management, plus one year and six months of creditable experience that included the preparation, maintenance, and management of health records and health information systems meets an equivalent combination.

Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following:
(1) Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
OR,
(2) HIM Certification through AHIMA.
OR,
(3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA.

Grade Determinations: Medical Record Administration Specialist

GS-11
(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
OR,
(b) Education. Education equivalent to 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in the field of health information.
(c) Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities
1. Skill in [performance] and process improvement [techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management.
2. Ability to advise management and staff, at various levels, regarding health record documentation requirements and health information management practices based on current industry standards, policies, statues, laws, and regulations.
3. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
4. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
5. Ability to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and meaningful information.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G33, Medical Record Administration Specialist Qualification Standard, GS-0669, Veterans Health Administration.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Office setting is adequately heated, lighted and ventilated as well as meeting rooms and classrooms. Position may require occasional travel. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there is usually some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, files, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Health Data Analyst Certification. This is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must certify mastery in health data analysis. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of health data analyst certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current health data analyst certification includes Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA).

Health Information Management (HIM) Certification. Higher-level health information management certification is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of HIM certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current HIM certifications include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .