Medical Records Admin

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco is seeking a Medical Records Administration Specialist (MRAS) to support the Health Information Management Section in the Health Care System.

The role focuses on managing health records and providing health information services within a rigorous regulatory framework. The position requires a combination of education and experience in health information management, with professional certifications often required for higher grades.

Qualifications

• Three years of creditable experience in medical records including preparation, maintenance, and management of health records and health information systems.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in health information management or a related degree with at least 24 semester hours in health information management or health information technology.
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education may meet basic requirements.
• HIM Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.

Responsibilities

• Manage a health record program and provide services related to medical record administration/health information services.
• Apply knowledge of medical terminology and health information practices in daily operations.
• Use data collection and analytical techniques for quality review and reporting.
• Prepare and present health information using various formats and reports.

Skills

Medical records

Health information systems

Medical terminology

Communication

Data analysis

Health data management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management

Major in health information management or related degree with 24 semester hours

AHIMA/AAPC Coding Certification

AHIMA HIM Certification

AHIMA Health Data Analyst Certification

Tools

HCPCS

ICD-10-CM/PCS

CPT

Job description

This position is located in the Health Information Management Section (HIMS) of the Business Service at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Medical Records Administration Specialist (MRAS) in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) performs 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.
• Education or Experience

1. 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,

2. 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,

3. 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:

1. (1) Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
2. (2) HIM Certification through AHIMA.
3. (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA.

NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions 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 Administration Specialist, GS-5

Experience or Education: None beyond basic requirements.

Medical Records Administration Specialist, GS-7

Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, [one] year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

OR,
Education (Advanced Entry-Level Placement): Applicants who meet the GS-5 grade level may be appointed at the GS-7 grade level, if they possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study in health information management, with an exemplary academic record as demonstrated by:

• i. A 3.0 or higher-grade point average (GPA) out of a possible 4.0 GPA ("B" or better), as recorded on their official transcript or as computed based on four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or
• ii. A 3.5 GPA or higher out of a possible 4.0 GPA ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field of study, or the required courses completed in the major field of study during the final two years of the curriculum.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• i. Knowledge of current classification systems, such as International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and [the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).
• ii. Ability to effectively communicate (written and verbal) with medical center staff, patients, and external entities.
• iii. Ability to use data collection and analytical techniques for purposes of review, quality control, studies and analysis of health information.
• iv. Ability to utilize computer applications with varied functions to produce a wide range of reports, to abstract records, collect and analyze data and present results in various formats.
• v. Ability to work independently, adapt to shifting priorities, and meet deadlines.

Medical Records Administration Specialist, GS-9

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics described at that level.

OR,
Education: Education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master's [degree] or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to health information management.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• i. Knowledge of medical and legal requirements related to health information management and health records.
• ii. Ability to provide technical advice and guidance on health information management practices.
• iii. Skill in extracting data from various sources and analyzing health information to create reports.
• iv. Skill in researching, interpreting, and applying health information management guidelines.
• v. Knowledge of performance and process improvement techniques to develop new or improved solutions in health information management.

Medical Records Administration Specialist, 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.

AND Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

• i. Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management.
• ii. 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, statutes, laws, and regulations.
• iii. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
• iv. Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
• v. Ability to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into 8 accurate, consistent, and meaningful information.

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-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:

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.