MEDICAL RECORDS TECH (ROI)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Medical Records Technician - Release of Information (ROI) works in the Release of Information Health Information Management Section (HIMS) within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. The role involves processing and maintaining medical records, applying knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and privacy laws under the supervision of the Assistant Chief, HIMS.

Qualifications emphasize knowledge of health information technology, HIPAA, and proper release of information

Qualifications

• Knowledge of medical terminology and health information management concepts.
• Familiarity with privacy and release of information regulations.

Responsibilities

• Process and maintain medical records.
• Assist in handling and releasing protected health information in compliance with laws.
• Support accuracy and timeliness in health information management tasks.

Skills

Medical terminology

Privacy & confidentiality

Time management

Communication

Education

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

Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management

Tools

Electronic health record systems

Release of information systems

Job description

The Medical Records Technician - Release of Information (ROI) serves in the Release of Information Health Information Management Section (HIMS) of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), and is under the supervision of the Assistant Chief, HIMS. Occupation involves technical work concerned with processing and maintenance of medical records. Work requires practical knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and legal requirements of the medical record.

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).
• 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.

• 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).

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 month3 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.

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

GS-04: None beyond basic requirements, entry level.

GS-05:

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level.

Or

(2) 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).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) 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.).

(b) Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information.

(c) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues.

(d) Knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information.

(e) Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport.

GS-06: Full Performance Level

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) 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).

(b) 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.

(c) Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information.

(d) Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Prior work handling medical records
• Processing requests in accordance with HIPAA and VA regulations.

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-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS06.

Physical Requirements:

Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization.