MEDICAL RECORDS TECH (ROI)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) within the Health Information Management team in Charleston, SC. MRTs educate requestors on information submission requirements and validate authorization forms to process requests efficiently.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of health information systems, HIPAA rules, and ability to prioritize requests in line with VA policies and regulations.

Qualifications

• One year of creditable experience in health terminology and health records.
• Education options include an associate degree with HIT/HIM courses.
• Combination of education and experience allowed for qualifying substitutions.

Responsibilities

• Educate requestors on requirements for submitting health information requests.
• Receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information.
• Prioritize requests according to policies and regulations.

Skills

Medical terminology

Privacy and release of information

Health information systems

Record disclosure

Education

Associate's degree in Health Information Technology/Health Information Management

Tools

VistA/CPRS

Oracle Health

Epic

Job description

This position is located in the Health Information Manager VA Healthcare System. MRTs (ROI) are responsible for educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information. They receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• 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:
    • 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.
    • 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.
• Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (ROI) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  • Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation, but will not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  • Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  • Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

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).

Preferred Experience:

Experience processing release of information requests in a VHA, DoD, or civilian healthcare setting, including validation of authorizations, release of protected health information, and compliance with Privacy Act, FOIA, and HIPAA requirements Demonstrated use of a dedicated ROI tracking system.

Experience navigating an electronic health record (e.g., VistA/CPRS, Oracle Health, Epic) to locate, assemble, and prepare records for disclosure. Familiarity with medical legal requests including subpoenas, court orders, and workers compensation. Ability to use Adobe Acrobat to merge, split, and redact PDF documents prior to release.

Grade Determinations

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements, the grade specific requirements and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) must be met as listed below as specified at each grade level.

GS-5 KSAs:

• Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (ROI) positions
• 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.

GS-6 KSAs:

• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (Privacy Act, FOIA, HIPAA, and 38 U.S.C. 7332)
• 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/

Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.