Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) position is located in the Health Information Management section at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center. Position will provide supervision, administrative management, and direction of Release of Information staff and have full supervisory responsibility in reviewing and processing requests for patient protected health information.

Duties

Provides direct customer service to the veterans or third party, by providing copies of the veteran's protected health information. Ensures only the information that the veteran specified to be released, is shared only with those whom the veteran has authorized, or who have legal authority to receive such information. Prepares work assignments, monitors the performance of release of information staff, evaluates employee performance, selection of staff, recommends awards and advancements, and takes disciplinary actions. Generates workload reports, distributes pending workload to staff, and monitors completion status. Ensures the timely release of health records in accordance with policies and procedures. Ensures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements and ensure corrective action is initiated, as needed. Works collaboratively with VA Regional Counsel to ensure health records related to malpractice, subpoenas, and tort cases are prepared and disclosed in a timely manner. Ensures orientation and competency assessments are conducted for all assigned staff. Develop policies and procedures, performance standards, and position descriptions, and/or functional statements. Responsible for professional and administrative management of release of information staff. Maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Serves as supervisor and technical expert for the Release of Information Unit. Provides guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit or team. Provides effective audits and monitors for all areas of responsibility, assuring that accurate and timely data is processed by all employees. Reviews work accomplished and assesses quality, quantity, accuracy and timeliness of work produced by each employee. Ascertains problems encountered and takes corrective action. Keeps employees informed about important aspects of personnel management programs. Approves leave and establishes work schedules. Implements provisions of EEO programs to ensure fair and equal treatment for all employees. Prepares formal requests and recommendations for promotions, reassignments, other status changes, or recognition of outstanding performance of assigned employees. Prepares and submits functional statements for new positions, clarification, or updates. Receives formal grievances, resolving those that can be resolved by the first level supervisor. Takes disciplinary action as deemed necessary and proposes to higher authority specific disciplinary action. Keeps employees informed of management goals and objectives and higher levels supervisors informed of employee participation and concerns. Ensures that release of information activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of and adherence to privacy policies and procedures are performed and coordinated in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE). Ensures that record retrieval and record transfers to other VA facilities for the purposes of continuity of patient care and release of information are timely. Responds to the needs of customers while supporting the VA mission; communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Constructively and appropriately handles conflicts with customers. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51165 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Experience and Education: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health records. Six months of this experience has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) work. OR 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. OR Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements. 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: In addition to meeting the above basic requirements for this occupation, ALL applicants must also meet the following grade level requirements. Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Release of Information), GS-08. One year of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level. This experience is above the journey level, with the higher-level duties consisting of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety performing as a Lead Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) monitoring quality and quantity of work to ensure adherence to applicable requirements and regulations or Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) with supervision, administrative management, and direction of release of information staff at or below the journey level. In addition to this experience, all applicant must have the ability to demonstrated the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to develop policy and provide workload analysis for release of information, Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution, Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training, and Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, to include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, recommendations of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. Creditable Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is paid or non-paid employment directly related to the position to be filled, or in a related field such as medical support assistants, ward clerks, health record file room/scanning technicians, incomplete health record analysis, medical coding, or other positions that included knowledge of the content and use of health records. To be creditable, the candidate's experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current release of information practice and clearly documented on the resume. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of CPRS and Vista System. References: VA Handbook 5005/123 Part II, Appendix G58, Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) Qualification Standard, GS-0675, Veterans Health Administration, December 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Refer to VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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]