Position is in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of the Health Administration Service (HAS) Service Line. Performs work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services. Manage, preserve, analyze, and supervise the use of diagnostic and therapeutic health records/health information management.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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: 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 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 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: Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC OR HIM Certification through AHIMA OR Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA Loss of Credential: Following initial certification, credentials must be maintained through rigorous continuing education, ensuring the highest level of competency for employers and patients. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies, if a placement opportunity exists. English Language Proficiency: MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: GS-5. None beyond basic requirements. Assignment: Employees at this grade level serve in an MRA career development position under close supervision. MRAs are responsible for generating multiple HIM reports. They participate in various health record review activities to ensure the integrity of the health record according to established policies. GS-7. Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR Education (Advanced Entry-Level Placement): Applicants who meet the GS-5 grade level may be appointed at the GS-7 grade level, if they possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study in health information management, with an exemplary academic record as demonstrated by: A 3.0 or higher-grade point average (GPA) out of a possible 4.0 GPA ("B" or better), as recorded on their official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or A 3.5 GPA or higher out of a possible 4.0 GPA ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field of study, or the required courses completed in the major field of study during the final two years of the curriculum. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of current classification systems, such as International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). Ability to effectively communicate (written and verbal) with medical center staff, patients, and external entities. Ability to use data collection and analytical techniques for purposes of review, quality control, studies and analysis of health information. Ability to utilize computer applications with varied functions to produce a wide range of reports, to abstract records, collect and analyze data and present results in various formats. Ability to work independently, adapt to shifting priorities, and meet deadlines. GS-9. Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics described at that level. OR Education: Education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to health information management. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of medical and legal requirements related to health information management and health records. Ability to provide technical advice and [guidance] on health information management practices. Skill in extracting data from various sources and analyzing health information to create reports. Skill in researching, interpreting, and applying health information management guidelines. Knowledge of performance and process improvement techniques to develop new or improved solutions in health information management. GS-11. Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all of the KSAs described at that level. OR Education: Education equivalent to three 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 management. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management. 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. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management Ability to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into 8 accurate, consistent, and meaningful information. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: This work requires light lifting and carrying (under 15lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, both eyes required, and ability to see to read materials.
Perform data mining; complex data analysis; and interpret and transform data. Present findings and recommendations to the Chief of HIM and facility leadership. Perform workflow analyses, recommend process improvements, identify and implement best practices, and implement changes as needed. Prepare workload and production reports, monitor trends to identify efficiencies and outliers, and recommend appropriate actions. Designs and performs quality improvement projects. Compile diagnostic, procedural, and statistical data, and present reports. Lead various health record review activities. Participate in various facility, regional, and/or national committees. Exhibits broad organizational knowledge, communicates and provides training and education. Duties may vary by grade, but at the GS-11 level: Assists the Chief and the HIM Department in identifying and setting short and long-range goals, program objectives, and tasks. Provides subject matter expertise. Provides training for HIM, clinical and administrative staff on HIM topics. Designs and performs quality improvement projects regarding HIM issues. Assists the CHIM in preparing and conducting various presentations. Keeps current on emerging issues and trends in the HIM field. Keeps HIM and clinical staff abreast of changing technology in electronic systems used to collect, process, code, protect and store health information. Participates in various VAMC, VISN and national committees requiring HIM subject matter expertise. Performs audits and analyses, preparing and presenting findings and recommendations to the CHIM, Service Line Leaders and medical staff. Assures the accuracy and timeliness of the capturing of patient services charges (workload) in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Reviews, analyzes and reports HIM performance monitors. Advises Principal Investigators and other clinical staff on methodologies related to retrieval of health care data for specific studies. Performs data retrieval for special studies. Utilizes advanced knowledge of VHA data sources to complete analyses of data. Analyzes and evaluates on a quantitative basis, the effectiveness of the HIM program and operations. Analyzes program performance data to identify areas needing improvement. Member of the local Revenue Cycle/Charge Services Team, interacts with clinical/ancillary staff to ensure that charge order items, represented by HCPCS/CPT codes, accurately reflect services provided. Coordinates with Revenue Cycle staff on CPT/HCPCS coding and Charge Description Master (CDM) maintenance updates to coincide with the code set updates. Researches the status of encounters and charges requiring additional action and identifies missing charges. Facilitates resolution by coordinating awareness of issues to be resolved for encounters on hold and suspended charges requiring facility actions. Supports validation of clinical data and encounter accuracy. For EHRM transitioned sites, audits data components of encounter data capture for accuracy and completeness, utilizing reports such as Charges out of Bounds, Suspended Charges and General Ledger reports. Provides clarification and assistance to clinical staff regarding appropriate workload capture. Facilitates correction of clinical documentation issues that result in encounter charge errors. Identifies and facilitates correction of registration data errors to ensure encounter accuracy. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships. May review and test HIM related software patches. Is the facility expert for software and computer applications related to HIM to provide technical assistance to HIM staff. Serves as point of contact for health record corrections. Collaborates on improperly identified documents with clinicians, Clinical Applications Coordinators (CACs) and others who report problems. Reassigns, rescinds, and removes documents when they have been entered or uploaded incorrectly. Provides education when dealing directly with physicians, nurses and other clinical providers requesting completion or adjustment of pertinent parts of the health records. Assists and provides guidance to supporting clinical services to capture required medical information on patients for computer database input. Selects, compiles and trends medical, surgical, and statistical data from numerous components of the health record. Retrieves diagnostic and statistical data for various reports required. May assign User Classes to users. Reviews requests for new templates or additions/correction to existing templates. Reviews requests for new paper forms and assists in the creation and implementation of electronic versions of these forms so that they are always available to EHR users. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized