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.
- Proficient in spoken and written English.
- Have at least one of the following experience and/or education requirements:
- 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
- Education. Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, 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
- 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.
In addition to the basic requirements, the below qualification requirements must be met for the GS-13.
Grade Determinations:
Assignments. This assignment is the Chief Health Information Management (CHIM), which is the highest-level professional position at the facility with responsibility for the management and direction of the health information management program. Full program management and supervisory responsibility to direct professional MRAs, technical MRTs, and other support staff in health information management. Provide technical advice, planning, and evaluation about health information management issues impacting the overall program on a regular and recurring basis. The CHIM establishes policies, procedures, responsibilities, and requirements for HIM-related matters, such as health record documentation, coding and clinical documentation improvement, release of information, file room/scanning, records management, transcription and medical speech recognition, as well as the overall management of health information and Veterans health records. They oversee development, implementation and adherence to HIM industry standards, policies, procedures, laws, regulations, and accrediting bodies. They ensure the facility is in compliance with applicable standards, by completing HIM audits, developing healthcare data reports, and statistical information, for timely and accurate reporting. The CHIM monitors HIM performance through dashboards, productivity standards, and benchmarking. They participate in establishing and implementing strategic facility and HIM Department goals and controlling program activities and cost, budgeting, procurement, and property management, to achieve goals and improve processes. The CHIM monitors and manages HIM workflow to ensure program objectives are met.
Experience: At leastone year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) described at that level. The lower grade, GS-12, MRA KSAs are:
- Skill in managing various projects and processes, which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems in health information management.
- Ability to advise management and staff on a wide range of health information management practices based on current industry standards, policies, statutes, laws, and regulations.
- Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and/or advise on current health information management processes, and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
- Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines, and accrediting bodies as they apply to health information management.
- Ability to successfully apply principles and techniques of sound resource management (i.e., staffing, space, contracts, equipment).
- Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
Medical Records Administrator (CHIM), GS-13, must have Health Information Management (HIM) Certification. This higher-level health information management certification is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of HIM certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current HIM certifications include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). The only acceptable proof of this certification must be provided from: https://my.ahima.org/certification/credentialverification.aspx Website.
Medical Records Administrator (CHIM), GS-13, must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
- Ability to provide sound, technical guidance to staff at various levels about major program, legal, or procedural changes related to health information management.
- Skill in revising facility policies and] procedures to improve health information management services and to evaluate, modify, and/or adapt new methods to meet regulatory requirements.
- Skill in analyzing complex data, interpreting and trending results for effective management of the HIM program.
- Skill in management/administration, which includes program planning, coordination, interpretation, supervision, consultation, negotiation, problem solving, and monitoring of HIM processes.
- Ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, accomplish program goals, and adapt to changing priorities.
These KSAs must be documented in your resume.
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 primarily sedentary. There is walking, bending and reaching required such as for filing or locating material, and carrying items such as reports, documents, and supplies. Entering data and word processing on a personal computer may result in physical problems from the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain.