Summary This position is located in the Health Information Management Section of Health Care Administration Service at the Alaska VA Medical Center. Medical Records Administration Specialist (MRAS) in 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. MRASs manage, preserve, analyze, and supervise the use of diagnostic and therapeutic health records/health information management. Responsibilities Serves as the Medical Records Administrator at the Alaska VA Medical Center which has been designated as complexity level 3. The duties include but are not limited to: Assists the Chief of Healthcare Administration Services in identifying and setting short- and long-range goals, program objectives and tasks to meet the mission and vision of the medical center. Responsible for supervisory duties, to include assignment of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions, when appropriate. Assists with planning, developing, directing and evaluating health information and other functions. Demonstrates skill in budgeting, contracting, procurement and property management. Participates in various facility, VISN and national committees requiring HIM subject matter expertise. Responsible for reports preparation and presentation of data to the committee(s). Responsible for developing and updating policies pertaining to committee function, health record review activities, and Healthcare Information Management. Ensures that health record review activities are consistent with the requirements established by VA handbooks and directives and are in compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) standards and Scoring Guidelines, Clinical Accreditation Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Behavioral Health, and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Advises committee, management and staff on adequate health record documentation, health information services, and electronic health records based on current statutes and standards. Designs and implements a program to measure compliance with documentation standards for all areas of the medical center including inpatient, outpatient, home health, long term care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and fee basis. Keeps abreast on training of TJC, VA, VHA, Medical Center and VISN documentation policies. Designs and performs quality improvement projects regarding Healthcare Information Management issues. Analyzes, interprets, and trends findings of quality improvement monitors (Health Record Review for Clinical Pertinence, Resident Supervision Monitor, etc.). Prepares monthly/quarterly reports for presentation to the medical staff and medical center management; based on these findings, makes recommendations and persuades physicians/service chiefs to adopt proposals that result in necessary policy or procedural changes. The incumbent aids in a variety of projects and is responsible for screening, abstracting and tallying data from records and computer-generated reports. Serves as a consultant to provide guidance and advise researchers on methods for gathering data. Assists in selected miscellaneous retrospective medical record review/data abstraction projects to support medical center Quality Management data collection activities. Advises staff in problem areas about quantitative and qualitative analysis of health records and determines acceptability of content. Consults with physicians and other clinicians regarding health record deficiencies as appropriate. Assists with the retrieval, review, analysis and reporting of HIM performance monitors and other medical record review topics. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 430 p.m. Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. E-Verify. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov. 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. 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. AND, Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to Medical Records Administrator position must have a HIM Certification through AHIMA. Preferred Certifications are Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA). NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level. Grade Determinations for Medical Records Administrator, (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)), GS-11: Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all of the KSAs described at that level. OR, 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management. 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, statutes, laws, and regulations. Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and 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 plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor and/or advise on current HIM processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures. 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 for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions, when appropriate. References: VA Handbook 5005/130 PART II APPENDIX G33 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-11, as the Medical Records Administrator is considered above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information 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.