Medical Record Technician - ROI

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Medical Records Technician (ROI) at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA. The role involves evaluating requests for release of information, applying privacy laws, and coordinating with the VA Regional Office.

GS-4 to GS-6 level duties focus on processing ROI requests, ensuring accuracy, and providing guidance to staff. The position follows standard hours, with comprehensive benefits from the federal system.

Qualifications

• Experience or education showing knowledge of medical terminology and health records.
• Ability to handle ROI requests and release of information in compliance with privacy laws.
• Familiarity with Privacy Act, FOIA, HIPAA and related VA policies.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate work to meet timeframes.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate the adequacy of each completed authorization form.
• Process ROI requests and determine what may be released within laws.
• Greet veterans/visitors and assist with requests for information.
• Provide advisory and technical assistance regarding release of information.
• Search records and compose responses for routine requests.

Skills

Health information management

Medical terminology

ROI knowledge

Privacy laws knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Associate's degree in health information technology/health information management

Bachelor's degree in health information management

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management section of the Health Administration Service at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center.

Qualifications

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 (ROI) must be proficient in spoken and written English - as required by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Experience and Education: Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and 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 (ROI) 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 and 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 experience and educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: (a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology - privacy and release of information - the health record - and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology/health information management courses
• (b) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology - privacy and release of information - the health record - and successful completion of a course for medical technicians - hospital corpsmen - medical service specialists - or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision
• The training program may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology - and health record techniques and procedures
• Grade Determinations: Medical Records Technician (ROI) - GS-4 Experience or Education: None beyond basic requirements Medical Records Technician (ROI) - GS-5 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• OR - Education: Successful completion of 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 and physiology - legal aspects of health care - and introduction to health records)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (ROI) positions (e.g. - the electronic health record - release of information systems - etc.)
• Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information
• Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes - and the ability to follow-up on pending issues
• Knowledge of policies - procedures - laws - and regulations governing privacy and release of information
• Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport
• Medical Records Technician (ROI) - GS-6 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (e.g. - Privacy Act - Freedom of Information Act - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) - and 38 U.S.C.
• 7332 - Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records)
• Ability to apply health record documentation guidelines and processes to navigate efficiently through the paper and/or electronic health record to locate - assemble - and disclose protected health information
• Ability to apply policies - procedures - laws - and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information
• Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• The duties in this position are primarily advisory and technical in nature
• Incumbent is responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each completed authorization form
• Screens each request for information to determine urgency and assures that most urgent requests are completed fist using established priority systems
• Personally greets veterans/visitors and assists them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released
• Applies public laws - rules - regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical record - including the Privacy Act - Freedom of Information Act and 38 U.S.C. 7332 governing the release of records containing information regarding the treatment of or referral for drug and/or alcohol abuse - Sickle Cell Anemia and infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• The incumbent processes all incoming requests to the facility for Release of Information (ROI) along with information required by the VA Regional Office through the Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE) - referring only problem cases to the Supervisor
• Evaluates validity of each request
• Determines which information is to be released in compliance with existing laws (Privacy Act of 1974 - Freedom of Information Act - and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
• Receives and directs callers and visitors
• Receives and/or gives out forms and assists visitors and/or callers with the completion of forms or documents
• Responds to questions from patients concerning services
• Provides advisory and technical assistance to patients - administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information
• Searches records or files to compose responses - including electronic searches to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data
• Employee composes responses to routine requests for release of patient information
• Composes detailed explanations in response to correspondence received - arranging information into logical sequence and appropriate format and choosing appropriate words and expressions to convey the desired tone
• Determines extent and tone of replies independentlyResolves conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests
• Other duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - Monday - Friday Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 / Medical Records Technician (ROI) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized