The Medical Records Administrator, (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)), GS-11 assists the Chief HIM (CHIM) in establishing policies, responsibilities, and requirements for HIM related matters, such as health record documentation, coding and clinical documentation improvement, records management, release of information, file room/scanning, transcription and medical speech recognition, as well as the overall management of health information and Veterans health records.

Duties

This position is covered by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)bargaining unit. Per the Master Agreement, the Area of Consideration will be: 1st Area of Consideration: Current permanent Carl Vinson Veterans' Administration Medical Center employees, including satellites. 2nd Area of Consideration: Current permanent employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs. Duties are included but not limited to: Participates in short and long range planning of Health Information Management activities. Serves as the Alternate Privacy Officer, Alternate FOIA Officer, and Records Control Officer for the medical center Ensures that the Medical Center has an excellent Medical Record Program which meets all standards of Joint Commission Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VA Regulations, i.e., VHA Handbook 1907.1 policies established by the Medical Center, i.e., Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules and Regulations and others as applicable. Provides technical advice and interpretation of the vast regulations, which constitute the basic authority for Health information Management issues. Actively works with all staff to adapt and modify standards, techniques and procedures to meet local needs, with full recognition of the interrelationships among various services of the Medical Center. Ensures that patient records are established, accurately maintained, completed and essential to promote quality medical care and ensuring consistent completeness of the record, its accuracy, and availability is a highly complex and difficult task. Assures the safeguarding and confidentiality of medical records whether computerized or in hard copy form; responsible for compliance with all federal statutes and regulations affecting record confidentiality. Responsible for establishing and maintaining systems for release of information consistent with the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, (VA Handbook 1605.1), and other Federal Regulations. Advises medical staff on medical record documentation requirements. The incumbent is tasked with the primary responsibility for communicating complex new documentation requirements and monitoring compliance through ongoing chart review. Responds to specific inquiries on behalf of beneficiaries received from congressional offices and other public officials at the Federal, State and local levels as required. Plans, designs, develops, md directs necessary procedures in accordance with VA regulations to ensure the smooth transition of this Medical Center from a paper medical record to a computerized medical record. Ensures accurate coding of all patient treatment, including inpatients, outpatients and observation patients. Management of the transcription contract or any other necessary contracts and provides oversight supervision to ensure changes are appropriate and quality of service is accurate and timely. Ensures quality controls are in place for the transmittal of Patient Treatment File (PTF) to Austin, Texas. Develops ongoing training for Health Information Management staff according to new and/or changes of programs, regulations and/or standards. Responsible for establishment of quality control procedures to verify chart analysis, coding (ensuring proper identification of the principal diagnosis, the accurate sequencing for diagnosis and procedures), use of proper nomenclature and consistency of solutions for judgmental decisions to ensure the correct assignment of DRGs and optimal reimbursement for services rendered by this Medical Center. Provides professional technical expertise to this Medical Center, contributing to the total facility performance. Responsible for coordinating the Medical Record Review Committee activities and follow up action, including forms control whether paper or computerized. Responsible for leaning, practicing and supporting all existing safety practices relevant to this position. In the performance of official duties, the incumbent has regular access to printed and electronic files containing information which must be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act 1974, and other applicable laws and regulations. Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Mon-Fri Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. [Candidates must be a citizen] of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. 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. c. 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. NOTE. See paragraph 2d above for a detailed definition of HIM Certification. OR, (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. See paragraph 2c above for a detailed definition of Health Data Analyst Certification. NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. d. 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. e. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as an MRA are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed , the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, and meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) MRAs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry , as a medical records administrator. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. g. English Language Proficiency. MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Medical Records Administrator, (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)), GS-11 (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all the KSAs described at that level. OR, (b) 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. AND (c) Certification. Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification. (d) Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities i. Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management. ii. 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, statutes, laws, and regulations. iii. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures. iv. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies as they apply to health information management. v. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor and/or advise on current HIM processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures. vi. Ability to successfully apply principles and techniques of sound resource management (i.e., staffing, space, contracts, equipment). vii. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, to include assignment of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions, when appropriate. Preferred Experience: Currently RHIA/RHIT Board Certified References: VA Handbook 5005/130 PART II APPENDIX G33 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

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 Carl Vinson VA Medical Center 1826 Veterans Boulevard Dublin, GA 31021 US
• Name: Amber Higgins
• Phone: (205) 933-8101 X333587
• Email: [email protected]