United States Citizens Permanent Full Time The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who served our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans.
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 1437212
**OUR MISSION**: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs,go tohttp://www.vacareers.va.gov/
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.**
The incumbent for this position may be eligible to apply for the Education Debt Reduction Program. Please contact Human Resources at this medical center and speak with the Education Debt Reduction Program Coordinator for additional information.
Must pass pre-employment examination Must be proficient in written and spoken English Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required Background and-or Security Investigation required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Time-in-grade-requirement must be met.
This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of Patient Business Service at the Dayton, Ohio VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the Medical Center including all administrative and clinical areas involved with the Service. The Health Information Management Intern at this level provides advisory and technical services in their placement position at the GS-11. Interns who board at the GS-7 level initially may be placed into their permanent position after
**Duties:**
(1). Incumbent services as technical specialist in health information related matters, provides, advice and guidance on a health information management program(s) in relation to such issues as documentation requirements for coding, transcription, advance directives, informed consent, scanning processes, patient privacy and confidentiality, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), state reporting, etc. Is an advisor to upper management on all aspects of the Health Information Management Program including a wide variety of medical legal issues. Incumbent makes final decisions regarding medical legal issues in accordance with VHA and facility privacy policies and regulations.
(2). Conducts quality assurance studies of hard-copy and/or electronic health record processing. Takes appropriate action or makes recommendation for process improvements. Conducts research on and coordinates projects and studies of records systems. Determines the scope of the study, formulates a plan of action, designs and creates study tools, tabulates results, summarizes findings, makes recommendations, and produces management reports.
(3). Serves as an electronic health record liaison in the implementation of automated clinical applications pertaining to the electronic health record. Applications supported concentrate on those involving automation of the clinical record and functions supporting clinicians and other health care providers in multiple using services. Analyzes clinical and administrative processes related to information flow. Tests and verifies software packages prior to activation in production mode.
(4). Participates in facility committees and subcommittees related to health information and provides technical advice when necessary. Participates in training related to VHA Healthcare Information Systems such as VistA. CPRS and other software packages as they relate to HIM job functions. Is a subject matter expert for various HIM related packages (DSS ROI Plus, VistA Document Imaging, VistA, CPRS, etc.)**Work Schedule:******(8:00 am to 4:30 pm)
**Functional Statement Title/#:******000000
**Basic Requirements:**
* U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
* b. **Education or Experience**
(1) **Experience**
(a) Three years of experience in the field of medical records that included the preparation, maintenance, and management of medical records and health information systems. At least 1 year of this experience must be comparable to a GS-4 level position.
An associate’s degree in the health information field plus 1 year of experience that included thepreparation, maintenance, and management of medical records and health information systems.
**NOTE:**Successfully completed training for health information technicians in a school accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) at the time the program was completed may be substituted for 1 year of experience. No credit may be given for partial completion of such training.
**OR,**
(2) **Education.**Education equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college
**OR,**
(3) **Experience/Education Combination.**Equivalent combinations of experience and education may be used to meet basic requirements.
**English Language Proficiency.**MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. he following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.
**Preferred Experience:** Experience working in a Doctor office or Hospital as a Medical Records Administrator.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Grade Determination
(1) **GS-5.**None beyond basic requirements.(a) **Assignment.**Employees at this grade level serve in an MRA career development position under close supervision.
(2) **GS-7 See Qualification Standards for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
(a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
**OR,**
(c) **Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities**
1. Comprehensive understanding of clinical classification systems and nomenclatures.
2. Ability to provide advisory and technical expertise on a range of health information management/medical record issues to staff, management, and the general public.
3. Ability to use data collection and analytical techniques for purposes of review, quality control, studies and analysis.
4. Knowledge of and ability to use and evaluate software programs and information systems relative to health information services.
5. Knowledge of anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology.
(d) **Assignment.**Employees at this level typically serve in an MRA career development position under the supervision of higher level MRAs and are provided ongoing guidance in day-to-day assignments.
**GS-9**
(a) **Experience.**At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
**OR,**
(b) **Education.**Education equivalent to 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or master’s or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to health information.
(c) **Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities**
1. Ability to interpret and apply knowledge of clinical classification systems such as International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Technology (CPT), the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED), and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS);
2. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with the standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies such as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, etc.
3. Ability to provide technical advice and/or provide oversight on health information issues. This includes skill in interpreting and adapting health information management guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity;
4. Ability to extract information, generate reports from various databases (e.g. clinical, financial), and analyze data including a consideration of such issues as applicability, validity, reliability, and the quality and characteristics of the data source, etc.;
5. If the position is supervisory in nature, ability to successfully apply principles and techniques of sound human resource management;
6. If the position is supervisory in nature, skill in administrative management, i.e., budgeting, contracting, procurement, property management; and
7. If the position is supervisory in nature, ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, accomplish program goals, and adapt to changing priorities.
(d) **Assignments.**At the GS-9 grade level, individuals may be assigned to advisory, consultative, supervisory, or non-supervisory positions in a health information department or other organizational entity requiring health information management competencies.
(3) **GS-11**
(a) **Experience.**At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
**OR,**
(b) **Education.**Education equivalent to 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in the field of health information.
(c) **Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities**
1. Skill in project management and process improvement, which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems in health information management;
2. Ability to advise management and staff about adequate medical record documentation, health information services, and/or computerized patient records based on current statutes and standards;
3. Ability to plan for, justify, test, assess, and/or advise about the use of current and future software programs or information systems, implement and integrate such products into current health information management processes, and recommend changes in policies or procedures;
4. Ability to interpret, implement, and apply knowledge of privacy and confidentiality requirements affecting individual patient/protected health information;
5. Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of medical and legal requirements related to both paper and electronic medical records;
6. Ability to communicate and negotiate with professionals in higher level positions;
4) **Part-Time Experience.**Part-time experience as a medical record administrator is creditable according to its relationship to full-time workweek. For example, an MRA would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work.
**References:** VA Handbook 5005 /15 Part II Appendix G33 VA Medical Record Administrator Qualification Standard.This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
**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.
**Physical Requirements:Walking 1-8 hours, Standing, 1-8 hours, working closely with others and working alone.**
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
**NOTE:**The full performance level of this vacancy is [GS- 11]. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of[GS-5]to[GS-11]. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.****
**All applicants are encouraged to apply online.**
**To apply for this position**, you must complete the View Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, July 10, 2015 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click **Apply Online** to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click **Submit My Answers** to submit your application package.
*NOTE*: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. All applicants are _**required**_ to submit the following supporting document type(s):
* Other (VA-Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupation)
* Resume
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s),which may not be required for all applicants:
* Cover Letter
* DD-214
* OF-306
* Other Veterans Document
* SF-15
* SF-50
* Transcript
**** **VA Form 10-2850c** - Application for Associated Health Occupations **(required)**. Available at the VA Forms website: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo=10-2850&tkey=&Action=Search
Please use this checklist__to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify),documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
**Veterans' Preference:** When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
**Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:**You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online or unable to upload your supporting documents to your online application, follow the directions located at the following site: Fax Options. The Vacancy ID of the job opportunity announcement is 1437212.
*NOTE*: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203-FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. During our review, if your résumé and application package do not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email (if provided); otherwise, applicants will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking on “Application Status.” For a more detailed update of your status, click on “more information.” Information regardingapplicant notification points can be found in the USAJobs Resource Center.
VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides is an overview of the benefits currently offered:http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp.**
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:** Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.