Medical Records Administrator- Chief of HIM (CHIM)- Recruitment & Relocation Incentive

## **Summary** This assignment is the Chief of Health Information Management (HIM) section within Health Administration service line (HAS). The Section Chief of HIM is the highest-level professional position at the facility with full program responsibility for the management and direction of all facets of HIM program and processes. The Section Chief of HIM ensures the HIM program complies with national policies and procedures and meets or exceeds national performance metrics. Learn more about this agency ## **This job is open to** ### **The public** U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. ### **Internal to an agency** Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement. ### **Clarification from the agency** Open to current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees and all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. ## **Duties** Duties include but are not limited to: - Responsible for the administrative management of health records, which includes planning, managing, advising, and directing the HIM program in accordance with applicable Federal laws, facility by-laws, VHA policy (which includes directives, handbooks, program guides, fact sheets and practice briefs), The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and other regulatory and accrediting agency standards - Creates and monitors systems to ensure accurate, timely, and complete health records, in accordance with VHA policy and TJC health information protocols - Performs evaluation and analysis of programs and services for the purpose of strategic planning - Measures ongoing intradepartmental performance by establishing priorities, collecting data, monitoring, and reporting outcomes using valid and reliable techniques to analyze trends and variations, and taking appropriate action based on findings - Applies the knowledge and skills of qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to analyze complex data, interpret results, and trend data for effective program management - Responsible for all aspects of health records management for the facility ensuring maintenance of complete, accurate, timely, clinically pertinent, and readily accessible patient health records, which contain sufficient recorded information to serve as a basis to plan patient care, support diagnoses, warrant treatment, measure outcomes, support education, research, and facilitate performance improvement processes and legal requirements - Develops policies, processes, and procedures that address all VHA, Federal, regulatory, and accrediting requirements for HIM. Evaluates health records programs and independently determines the nature and extent of problem areas. **Work Schedule**: Monday- Friday, 7:30am- 4:00pm **Telework**: Not Authorized **Virtual:** This is not a virtual position. **Functional Statement #**: 91392-0 **Relocation/Recruitment Incentives**: Authorized **Permanent Change of Station (PCS):** Not authorized **PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):** Not authorized ## **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. - 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 may 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** 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:** MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). - **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. **Definitions of Certifications:** **A:** Coding Certification: Mastery certification obtained through the American Health 2 Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC). To be acceptable for qualification, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Stand-alone specialty certifications do not meet the definition of mastery level coding certification and are not acceptable for qualifications. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of mastery level coding certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies; however, current mastery level coding certifications include: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) - Physician-based (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). **B:** Health Data Analyst Certification: This is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must certify mastery in health data analysis. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of health data analyst certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current health data analyst certification includes Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA). **C:** 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). **Grade Determinations**: In addition to basic requirements, to qualify at the **Medical Records Administrator (Chief (CHIM)), GS-13,** applicants must also meet the below requirements: - **Experience:** One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. **AND** - **Certification:** Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification. NOTE. See above paragraphs for detailed definitions of HIM Certification(s). **AND** - **Applicants must demonstrate they possess all of the Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), in their resume:** - 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 facili