Summary
This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) - 3220 Deming Way - at the Wm. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. The Release of Information (ROI) technicians reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI -) in accordance with all applicable Federal laws - rules - and regulations regarding release of health information.
Summary
This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) - 3220 Deming Way - at the Wm. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. The Release of Information (ROI) technicians reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI -) in accordance with all applicable Federal laws - rules - and regulations regarding release of health information.
Qualifications
Qualifications 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
- English: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English
- 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 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)
- Transcripts Required
- -OR Combination Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements
- The following education/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience
- The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience: (a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology - privacy and release of information of and the health record - and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology 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 of 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 - physiology - and health record techniques and procedures
- Transcripts Required
- GRADE REQUIREMENTS: MRT (ROI)
- All individuals assigned to this occupation must have an approved parenthetical title - MRT (ROI)
- These requirements apply to all VHA MRT (ROI) assignments in the GS-0675 series
- The MRT (ROI) reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI)
- The MRT (ROI) also provides direct customer service to the Veteran (or third party) - by providing copies of the Veteran's PHI - when a signed - written request is received - or upon the Veteran's valid authorization to a third party
- The MRT (ROI) must ensure that only the information that the Veteran specified be released - is shared only with those whom the Veteran has authorized - or who have legal authority to receive such information
- To perform this task - a MRT (ROI) must possess expertise in all applicable Federal laws - rules - and regulations regarding release of health information
- GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of creditable experience and/or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-4 through GS-6 grade level
- GS-4 Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements above
- GS-5 Level Experience or Education: At least 1 year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-4) or 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 - applicants must demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) 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.)
- (2) Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information
- (3) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes - and the ability to follow-up on pending issues
- (4) knowledge of policies - procedures - laws - and regulations governing privacy and release of information
- (5) Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport
- Transcripts required if qualifying based on Education
- GS-6 Level Experience: At least one full year of creditable experience as an MRT (ROI) to the next lower level (GS-5) which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position to be filled
- Creditable experience must demonstrate skill in applying - interpreting - and analyzing laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information
- educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information
- receiving and validating authorization forms and request
- using various computer applications to track and release authorized ROI requests initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records
- In addition - applicants must demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) 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)
- (2) 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
- (3) Ability to apply policies - procedures - laws - and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information
- (4) 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: The work is sedentary - but may require walking - bending - standing - and /or carrying of light items such as files and manuals
- The work does not require any special physical effort or ability.
Duties
- DUTIES: - 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)
- - Evaluates validity of each request
- - Determines which information is to be released in compliance with existing laws - such as the Privacy Act of 1974 - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- - Inputs all requests into the ROI computer software for logging and tracking of these requests
- - 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
- - Searches records or files to compose responses - including electronic searches to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data
- - Reviews paper and electronic health records (i.e. - scanned notes - reports - special tests - etc.) to identify material to be photocopied/ printed/written to electronic media and released
- - 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
- - Resolves conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests
- - Processes Social Security requests for health information using ROI software
- - Completes and processes routine releases of information to other VA and Federal Agencies and when requested - to patients and their families - insurance representatives - physicians - hospitals - and city and state health agencies according to VA directives
- - Accurately enters all requests into the ROI software with necessary information for each request for health information
- - Completes necessary transactions for deposit of money collected from subpoenas - legal fees - and processing fees for release of information to individuals and insurance companies
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Yes - ADHOC only as determined by the agency policy
- This is not a remote position
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: GS-04 09821F - GS-05 09822F - GS-06 09823F
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized