This Medical Records Technician (ROI) is in the Medical Administrative Service at the Togus VA Medical Center, located at the Augusta, ME. This position is full-time 40 hours a week.

Duties

The purpose of this position is to serve as a Medical Record Technician (MRT) (Release of Information (ROI). MRTs review and process requests for patient protected health information (PHI) and also provide direct customer service to Veterans (or third party), by providing copies of the Veteran's PHI, when a signed, written request is received, or upon the Veteran's valid authorization to a third party. The MRT (ROI) must ensure that only the information the Veteran specified be released, is shared only with those whom the Veteran has authorized, or who have legal authority to receive such information. To perform this task, a MRT (ROI) must possess expertise in all applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding release of health information. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Evaluate the adequacy of each completed authorization form. Screen each request for information to determine urgency. Greet Veterans/Visitors and assists them in determining the exact nature of the request. Apply public laws, rules, regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical record. Process all incoming requests to the facility for Release of Information (ROI) along with information required by the VA Regional Office through the Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE). Ensure that proper authorization exists before release is made. Process the request to the requesting agency or individual. Inputs all requests into the ROI computer package for logging and tracking of these requests Receive and/or give out forms and assists visitors and/or callers with the completion of forms or documents. Respond to questions from patients concerning services. Provide advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information. Resolves conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc. This position is authorized for telework but has not been authorized as virtual or remote (i.e., the must be able to work at the location the position is being announced for). VA supports the use of telework to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:F03862, F03861,F03860 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notification Information: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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: 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: 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, 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, 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. 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: GS-04: Entry Level None beyond basic requirements. GS-05: Developmental Level Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR, 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).AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. 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.). ii. Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information. iii. Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues. iv. Knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information. v. Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport. GS-06: Full Performance Level Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, such as receiving, validating authorization forms and requests for information and prioritizing requests according to policies and regulations; Utilizing various computer applications to track and release all authorized release of information requests; Processing and releasing health information to authorized first- and third-party requestors; Initiating and maintaining accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records; Communicating with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the release of information process; Ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information. AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. 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). ii. 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. iii. Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information. iv. Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner. Preferred Experience: N/A 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 GS-4 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: BRANDY SMITH
• Phone: 410-585-5823
• Email: [email protected]