MEDICAL RECORDS TECH (Health Information Technician)

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 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 HIT must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience/Education: Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and a 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 HIT 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, 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 educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medicalterminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and one yearabove high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health informationtechnology/health information management. Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medicalterminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and successfulcompletion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medicalservice specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given bythe U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical andprofessional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for upto six months of experience, provided the training program included courses inanatomy, 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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a MRT HIT, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations:GS-4 (Entry Level): None beyond basic requirements. GS-5 (Developmental Level 1): One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level. OR 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 & physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records).In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers. Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products used in health information management positions (e.g., Microsoft Excel, electronic health records, and delinquency tracking software). Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and industry standards. Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete duties within required timeframes. Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy to fully understand the content of a health record. GS-6 (Developmental level): One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to navigate efficiently through the health record to locate needed information. Ability to analyze health record documentation to ensure compliance with guidelines and industry standards. Skill in investigating potential health record errors and making corrections, when appropriate. Skill in interpreting and applying health information guidelines and using judgment to complete assignments. Ability to follow up on incomplete health record documentation. GS-7 (Full Performance Level): One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.In add