This position is in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System and falls under the jurisdiction of Health Information Management. The following are the requirements for appointment as a Medical Records Technician (MRT) (Release of Information (ROI)) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
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. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (ROI) must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience and Education: (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health records. Six months of the required one year of creditable experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT (ROI) work. OR, (2) Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a major field of study in health information technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records). OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements. The following experience and educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:(a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology/health information management courses.(b) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. The training program may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Grade Determinations: Requirements for GS-4: None beyond basic requirements. Requirements for GS-5: (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR, (2) Education. Successful completion of a bachelor's degree 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 technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (ROI) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, release of information systems, etc.). (b) Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information. (c) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues.(d) Knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information. (e) Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport. Requirements for GS-6: Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) (a)Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and 38 U.S.C. § 7332, Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records). (b) Ability to apply health record documentation guidelines and processes to navigate efficiently through the paper and/or electronic health record to locate, assemble, and disclose protected health information. (c) Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information. (d) Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner 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 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS4 to GS 6 Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
Duties performed include, but are not limited to the following: Receive and validate authorization forms and requests for medical records information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulation; Screens requests for information to determine urgency and assures that most urgent requests are completed first using established priority systems; Greet veterans/visitors and assist them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released; Use various computer applications to track and release all authorized release of information requests; Accurately enters all requests into the ROI software with necessary information for each request for health information; Initiates and maintain the Accounting of Disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act Systems of records; Provides advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information; Communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the release of information process; Composes responses to routine requests for release of patient information; Selects and compiles information from health records and prepares correspondence, typically using standard form or standard formats for letters; Process Social Security requests for health information using ROI software; Completes and processes routine release of information to other VA and Federal agencies and when requested, to patients and their families, insurance representatives, physicians, hospitals, and city and state health agencies Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm ( subject to changed based on agency needs) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Avaliable Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-00029-F,520-00030-F,520-00031-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized