Assistant Chief - Health Information Management

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief, HIM) at Salisbury VA Health Care System to lead health information management operations.

The role includes supervising all HIM functions, ensuring data integrity, and coordinating with clinical and research teams for health information access and compliance. Responsibilities include policy development, staff supervision, data reporting, and ensuring adherence to Joint Commission and CARF standards within

Responsibilities

• Supervise HIM functions and daily operation of the health information management department.
• Oversee medical record activities including coding, documentation integrity, file room, scanning and health information exchange.
• Prepare and update policies, standard operating procedures, and training guides.
• Advise physicians and staff on data availability, access, and uses while protecting confidentiality.
• Participate in committees and ensure compliance with VA handbooks, directives, and accreditation standards.

Job description

Summary

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.

Qualifications

• 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: Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following: 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent serves as the Assistant Chief of Health Information Management (ACHIM) in a medical facility of high complexity (level 1) - with responsibility for the supervision of all HIM functions
• Incumbent is charged with full responsibility - both technical and administrative - for the daily operation of the HIM department which consists of all functions of health record activities related to medical coding - clinical documentation integrity - health record documentation analysis - transcription/speech recognition - release of information - file room - scanning and indexing - and health information exchange
• The incumbent shares responsibility with the CHIM for collecting and processing data for various reports - surveys - and research projects
• for preparing reports and making recommendations for review and consideration by the Chief - HAS and upper management concerning the immediate needs as well as the long term goals of the HIM department
• for recommending equipment and staffing needs
• and for preparing and updating policies - standard operating procedures - and training guides
• Responsible for assisting physicians and other health professionals in obtaining health record information to be used in research projects
• Advises on what data is available - how it may be obtained - and the uses that can be made of the information while protecting the confidentiality of the record
• The incumbent aids in a variety of projects and is responsible for screening - abstracting and tallying data from health records and computer-generated reports
• Serves as a consultant providing guidance and advising researchers on methods for gathering health information and health record data
• Assists in retrospective health record review/data abstraction projects to support medical center Quality Management data collection activities
• Consistently conducts audits and monitors for all areas of responsibility - ensuring accurate and timely data is processed by all employees
• Reviews completed work and assesses quality - quantity - accuracy - and timeliness of work produced by each employee and provides constructive feedback
• Ascertains problems encountered - develops performance improvement plans - and recommends personnel actions as necessary
• Work is of an analytical - evaluative - and creative nature - and incumbent is responsible for keeping abreast of constant changes in the health information field as well as allied health fields and applying the information and knowledge gathered to the operations of the hospital.Incumbent assists the CHIM in the effective administration and planning of HIM program throughout all areas of the facility to provide maximum support to staff in the treatment of patients and the facility's research programs
• Activities must be accomplished in compliance with appropriate directives and requirements of VA/VHA Regulations - Medical Center Memoranda - and accreditation requirements such as The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards
• Participates in various facility - VISN and national committees requiring HIM subject matter expertise
• Prepares reports and presents data to the committee(s)
• Responsible for developing and updating policies pertaining to committee functions - health record reviews - and HIM activities
• Ensures that health record review activities are consistent with the requirements established by VHA handbooks - program guides - fact sheets - and directives - and are in compliance with TJC standards and Scoring Guidelines - CARF - Behavioral Health - and the Office of Inspector General (OIG)
• Advises committees - management and staff on adequate health record documentation - health information services - and EHR practices based on current policies - regulations - and industry standards
• May coordinate Medical/Health Record Committee (or equivalent) meetings
• Assists in coordinating/completing routine and non-routine reports
• Assists physicians and other health care professionals with research projects and education related to VHA HIM processes/procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.