Position is located in the Health Information Management (HIMS) Section at the Central Western Massachusetts VA Healthcare System, Leeds MA. The Lead Medical Records Technician (MRT) (Coder) must be able to review coding and assist other MRTs Coder in ensuring timeliness and improving coding accuracy; provide coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations.

Duties

The Lead MRT Coder must be able to perform all duties of a MRT coder. The Lead MRT Coder reviews coding and assist MRTs (Coder) in ensuring timeliness and improving coding accuracy; provides coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations; initiates various reports and analyzes data; coordinate, assign, and monitor workflow. The Lead MRT Coder provides input for performance evaluations and hiring. They develop coding training materials and present curriculum encompassing ongoing training initiatives; monitor trends and/or changes in regulatory, policy requirements affecting coding practices and identify educational needs. Specific duties include but not limited to: Analyzes and recommends improvements in documentation systems used to provide patient care to optimize VERA workload, third-party reimbursement, and to manage resources. Reviews compliance monitors with Supervisor and identifies training needs. Reviews, audits, trains, monitors and completes special assignments within specified time frames. Takes the initiative in one-on-one provider training to improve health record documentation for the episodes of care provided. Has constant interaction with health care providers evaluating and communicating with the expectation on improving health record documentation. Identifies training needs of individuals based on productivity and accuracy reports, rejects from billing, and spot checks. Makes recommendations to supervisor concerning disciplinary actions due to insufficient performance and identifies continuing education needs. Train others on the encoder product suite. Utilizes this system on an on-going basis to perform core coding duties and audits. Trains and works closely with professional and administrative staff to assist in the development, maintenance and usage of ICD and CPT codes to ensure accurate data capture. Distributes and balance the workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization, assures timely accomplishment of the assigned workload. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm, 40 hours a week. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 631-F06647 Lead Medical Records Technician (Coder) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not require. Note: This is a Bargaining Unit Position

Requirements

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. English Language Proficiency. MRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Certification: Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC Experience and Education. (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records 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, medical coding, and introduction to health records);OR, (3) Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed OR, (4) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: (a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school, with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses. (b) 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, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder). Grade Determinations: Lead Medical Records Technician (Coder), GS-09 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level GS-08 MRT (Coder).Experience at the GS-08 level includes but not limited to: Performing the full scope on inpatient and/or outpatient coding duties. Select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, CPT, and HCPCS classification systems to both inpatient and outpatient records. Code all complicated and complex medical/specialty diseases processes, patient injuries, and all medical procedures in a wide range of ambulatory/inpatient settings and specialties. Use various computer applications to abstract records, assign codes, and record and transmit data. Certification. Employees at this level must have a mastery level certification. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment, such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, etc. 2. Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems for the subspecialty being assigned (outpatient, inpatient, outpatient and inpatient combined) and the ability to research and solve complex questions related to coding conventions and guidelines in an accurate and timely manner. 3. Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, in order to meet program objectives. 4. Knowledge of training methods and the ability to provide training to new coding staff. 5. Ability to collect and analyze data and present results in various formats, which may include presenting reports to various organizational levels. 6. Leadership skills, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution between employees, managers, and clinical staff. Preferred Experience: 1. Current certification(s): Certified Coding Specialist (CCS),Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator(RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC),Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). 2. Works independently with minimal supervision, specifies immediate goals, scope of assignments and deadlines. 3. One year of experience working with medical records. References: VA Handbook 5005/122, Part II, Appendix G57. Physical Requirements: The work is performed in an office setting which adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary (6-8 hrs.) although, there is some walking (1 hr.), bending (1 hr), and carrying of bulky files (1- 10 lbs.) and some extended periods of standing (2 hrs).

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.

Contacts

• Address Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Emily Wayne-Lane
• Phone: 781-687-2000 (6764)
• Email: [email protected]