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.
- 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.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-13
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. The demonstrated KSAs include:
- Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
- Skill in evaluating, developing and implementing new policies , procedures, and programs.
- Ability to provide program oversight, including advisory and technical expertise on a range of health information management practices and guidelines to staff at various levels.
- Ability to develop and conduct training on health information management programs, policies, procedures, and performance improvement activities.
- Ability to effectively procure and manage HIM resources (i.e. space, staffing, education, budget, etc.).
- Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment 12 of work; completing performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
- Customer service skills necessary to effectively communicate (written and verbal) and interact with all levels of hospital personnel, physicians, patients, and outside agencies.
- Ability to deal effectively with sensitive and/or complex situations
AND
(b)
Certification. Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification. NOTE. See paragraph 2d of this appendix for detailed definitions of HIM Certification.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
- Ability to provide sound, technical guidance to staff at various levels about major program, legal, or procedural changes related to health information management.
- Skill in revising facility policies and] procedures to improve health information management services and to evaluate, modify, and/or adapt new methods to meet regulatory requirements.
- Skill in analyzing complex data, interpreting and trending results for effective management of the HIM program.
- Skill in management/administration, which includes program planning, coordination, interpretation, supervision, consultation, negotiation, problem solving, and monitoring of HIM processes.
- Ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, accomplish program goals, and adapt to changing priorities.
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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.