Medical Records Administration Specialist

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

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. Mastery Certification RHIT, RHIA, CHDA through AHIMA.
2. Mastery Coding certification from AAPC or AHIMA Health Data Analyst Certification through AAPC or AHIMA, which may include the following: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) - Physician-based (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)

Preferred Experience.

• Experience training HIM, clinical and administrative staff on HIM topics.
• Experience developing quality improvement projects regarding HIM topics.
• Experience working with EHR software: CPRS, VistA and/or Cerner.

English Language Proficiency: MRAs must also be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-11
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all of the KSAs described at that level. OR,
Education. Education equivalent to three 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 management.

In addition to the requirements above, candidates must also meet the following KSA's:

1. Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management.
2. Ability to advise management and staff, at various levels, regarding health record documentation requirements and health information management practices based on current industry standards, policies, statues, laws, and regulations.
3. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
4. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
5. Ability to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and meaningful information.

References: VA Handbook 5005/130 PART II APPENDIX G33.

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.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs), both hands and eyes required, and prolonged sitting and use of computer screen.