Job Description

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 REQIREMENTS 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: 1. Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. OR 2. HIM Certification through AHIMA. OR 3. Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. English Language Proficiency: MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Medical Records Administrator (Chief (CHIM)), GS-13 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12) level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. Example of GS-12 Experience/KSA's: - Ability to determining and evaluating 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 of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. - Communicate effectively (both written and verbal) and interact with all levels of hospital personnel, physicians, patients, and external agencies. - Ability to deal effectively with sensitive and/or complex situations. AND Certification: Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification. AND Demonstrated GS-13 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. Assignments: This assignment is the Chief Health Information Management (CHIM), which is the highest-level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the management and direction of the health information management program. This assignment is only for the CHIM in VA Medical Centers for all categories (1a, 1b, and 1c) within the complexity level 1 as designated in the VHA, "2014 Facility Complexity Level Model", with full program management