Medical Record Administration Specialist

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of Medical Administration Service at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System (SLVHCS). Medical Records Administration Specialist (MRAS) in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) perform work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services.

Major duties

Major duties for the Medical Records Administrator Specialist include (but are not limited to): Serves in a developmental capacity as technical specialist in health information related matters. Provides advice and guidance on the HIM program in relation to issues such as, but not limited, to documentation requirements for coding, liability issues, advance directives, informed consent, scanning processes, speech recognition, release of information, and record control processes. Determines the scope of the study, formulates a plan of action, and produces management reports. Assists in writing health information policies and procedures to incorporate new or revised approaches to the management of health information while ensuring that regulatory requirements are maintained when revising policies and procedures. Assists in performing work related to all areas of HIM as well as collaborates with other departments within the medical center and VISN to improve performance and patient care. Compiles, reviews, abstracts, analyzes, and interprets medical/legal data incidental to a variety of patient care and treatment activities. Assures the accuracy and timeliness of the capturing of patient services charges (workload) in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Assists the Chief, Health Information Management (CHIM) and the HIM Department in identifying and setting short- and long-range goals, program objectives and tasks to meet the mission and vision of the VAMC. Keeps current on emerging issues and trends in the health information management field, including process improvement initiatives for HIM, the electronic health record, coding and computer assisted coding, the revenue cycle, release of information and privacy issues, records management, transcription and data entry, and health information exchange. Keeps HIM and clinical staff abreast of changing technology in electronic systems used to collect, process, code, protect and store health information. Performs audits and analyses, preparing and presenting findings and recommendations to the CHIM, Service Line Leaders and medical staff. Participates in various VAMC, VISN and national committees requiring health information management subject matter expertise. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:30 am - 04:00 pm; (Subject to change based on the needs of the facility). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01298F, 01324F, 01329F, 01330F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available

Qualifications

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. Medical Records Administration Specialists must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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. Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following: (1) Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. OR, (2) HIM Certification through AHIMA. OR, (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. 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. None beyond basic requirements. Medical Records Administration Specialist,GS-7: (a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. OR, (b) 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, (c) 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. (a) 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, (b) 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, (c) 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. (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all of the KSAs described at that level. OR, (b) 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, (c) 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, statues, 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 accurate, consistent, and meaningful information. Preferred Experience: Tech-savvy; quickly learns new software, EHR, and health information systems. Intermediate to expert Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), including report building, data analysis, and presentations. Experience delivering presentations to large groups. Experience developing and delivering education/training plans for clinical and non-clinical staff. LEAN (or Lean Six Sigma) training or certification. Able to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing, demanding deadlines while maintaining accuracy. 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-05 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Education

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.