Medical Records Technician ROI

The Health Information Management service is seeking a full-time Medical Records Technician (ROI) at the VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia.

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:

• 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: Candidates must be proficient in 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'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). Or,
• Experience/Education Combination: 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 month-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-4 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-5 GRADE REQUIREMENTS:
Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4) of a MRT (ROI). OR,
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). AND,
GS-5 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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.

GS-6 GRADE REQUIREMENTS:
Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) of a MRT (ROI). AND,
GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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.

Preferred Experience: Working with medical records release, HIPPA, and privacy laws

References: VA Handbook 5005/123, Part II, Appendix G58

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 position is basically sedentary involving little physical effort, though lifting and carrying of light items may be required.

Responsibilities:

The primary purpose of this position is to receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations. They use various computer applications to track and release all authorized release of information requests. MRTs (ROI) process and release health information to authorized first- and third-party requestors. They initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. They communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the release of information process.

The duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each completed authorization form.
• Personally, greets veterans/visitors and assists them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released.
• Applies public laws, rules, regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical record, including the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act and 38 U.S.C. 7332 governing the release of records containing information regarding the treatment of or referral for drug and/or alcohol abuse, Sickle Cell Anemia and infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• 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).
• Determines which information is to be released in compliance with existing laws (Privacy Act of 1974, Freedom of Information Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
• Provides advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information.
• Resolves conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests.
• Replies to vague, incomplete, or ambiguous inquires by independently recognizing issues, topics or problems.
• 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.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: FS 50627, 50628, 50629
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required