Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM))

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of the Iowa City VA medical center. Medical Records Administrators (MRAS) in VHA perform or supervise work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services.

Duties

Duties include but are limited to the following: The incumbent serves as the Assistant Chief of health Information Management (ACHIM) in a medical facility of high complexity (Level 1) with responsibility for the supervision of all HIM functions. Incumbent is charged with full responsibility, both technical and administrative, for the daily operation of the HIM department which consists of all functions of health record activities related to medical coding, clinical documentation integrity, health record documentation analysis, transcription/speech recognition, release of information, file room, scanning and indexing, and health information exchange. Is a full assistant to the Chief of Health Information Management (CHIM). Provides expertise, guidance, direction and has responsibilities relative to providing supervision, administrative support, coordination, and technical assistance in the planning, development and maintenance of an effective, comprehensive, and integrated HIM Program at this Medical Center. This position assists the CHIM in the planning, directing, policy making, organizing and controlling the activities of the HIM department and serves as acting CHIM in the absence of the CHIM. The incumbent shares responsibility with the CHIM for collecting and processing data for various reports, surveys, and research projects; for preparing reports and making recommendations for review and consideration by the Chief and upper management concerning the immediate needs as well as the long term goals of the HIM department. Responsible for assisting physicians and other health professionals in obtaining health record information to be used in research projects. Consistently conducts audits and monitors for all areas of responsibility, ensuring accurate and timely data is processed by all employees. Develops performance standards and conducts performance evaluations. Is a subject matter expert on GS-0675 Medical Records Technician and GS-0669 Medical Records Administrator qualification standards and how to appropriately interpret and apply them. Work if of an analytical, evaluative and creative nature, and incumbent is responsible for keeping abreast of constant changes in the health information field. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am to 4:00 but tour of duty can be negotiable Telework: Ad Hoc Emergency Telework MAY BE Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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. 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. Education or Experience: 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 [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 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: Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. OR HIM Certification through AHIMA.OR Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)), GS-12 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all the KSAs described at that level. AND Certification. Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification. Health Information Management (HIM) Certification. Higher-level health information management certification is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. 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). AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

Area of Consideration: Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA Employees IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Other Information

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.