Assistant Chief - Health Information Management

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief) to lead health information management within the Salisbury VA Health Care System. The role focuses on managing health records programs and supervising staff in health information services.

Candidates must meet basic requirements including U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and HIM certification. A bachelor’s degree in HIM or related field with HIM/health IT coursework is required, with

Qualifications

• Experience in managing health information systems and medical records.
• Ability to advise on health information management practices based on standards and laws.
• Ability to plan, justify, and evaluate health information management processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage health records program and health information services.
• Supervise health information staff and activities as needed.
• Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines.

Skills

Project management

Advisory to management

Regulatory compliance

Resource management

Supervisory duties

Education

Bachelor’s degree in health information management

24 semester hours in health information management or health information technology

Tools

AHIMA RHIT/RHIA certification

Job description

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of Health Administration Service (HAS) at the Salisbury VA Health Care System. Medical Records Administrators (MRAs) in VHA perform or supervise work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services.

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: MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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:
  • Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. OR,
  • HIM Certification through AHIMA. OR,
  • Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA.
• NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. (This position is above the full performance level.)

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).

Grade Determinations:

Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)), GS-12

• Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all the KSAs described at that level. AND
• Certification: Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification.
  • Health Information Management (HIM) Certification: Higher-level health information management certification is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of HIM certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current HIM certifications include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).
  • Loss of Credential: Following initial certification, credentials must be maintained through rigorous continuing education, ensuring the highest level of competency for employers and patients. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies, if a placement opportunity exists.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Skill in managing various projects and processes, which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems in health information management.
  • Ability to advise management and staff on a wide range of health information management practices based on current industry standards, policies, statutes, laws, and regulations.
  • Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and/or advise on current health information management processes, and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
  • Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines, and accrediting bodies as they apply to health information management.
  • Ability to successfully apply principles and techniques of sound resource management (i.e., staffing, space, contracts, equipment).
  • 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Coding supervisor experience and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) preferred. 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.

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-12.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.