This position is in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of the Health Administration Service at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Medical Center. This position is responsible for the supervision of HIM functions. Responsible for daily operation of the HIM department consisting of all functions of medical record activities related to coding, analyzing, transcription, release of information, file room and scanning programs and is a full assistant to the Chief, HIM.

Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides expertise, guidance and technical assistance in the planning, development and maintenance of an effective, comprehensive, and integrated HIM Program. Evaluates Patient Treatment File (PTF) data validation program to include a qualitive review and evaluation of the clinical as well as administrative information. Advises Medical Record Technicians (MRTs) in problem areas about quantitative and qualitive analysis of medical records. Develops new policies and procedures for administering electronic medical record programs in order to improve program effectiveness and/or apply newly developed programs or theories to problems that require new approaches. May be required to develop training materials, and continuing education programs. Provides formal and informal service training and orientation of house staff as well as other members of the health care team regarding medical record functions and quality content. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. 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]. Grade Determinations: Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)) GS-12 a. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. AND, b. Certification. Employees at this level must have a RHIT Certification or RHIA Certification. AND, c. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in managing various projects and processes], which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems in health information management. Ability to advise management and staff [on a wide range of] health information [management practices] based on current [industry] standards, [policies, statutes, laws, and regulations]. Ability to plan, justify, [develop, evaluate,] assess, [monitor,] and/or 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 [ ] successfully apply principles and techniques of sound [resource] management [(i.e., staffing, space, contracts, equipment).] Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. References: VA Handbook 5005/130, Part II, Appendix G33, Medical Record Administrator Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: No special physical demands such as above average ability, dexterity, or strength are required to perform the work. The nature of the work is administrative in an office type setting working on a computer. Lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) would be occasional but only in direct support of the administrative duties required by the nature of 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.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Seth Hickman
• Phone: (858) 552-8585 X7394
• Email: [email protected]