LEAD MED REC TECH (ROI)

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. The MRT (ROI) reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI). The MRT (ROI) also provides direct customer service to the Veteran (or third party) - by providing copies of the Veteran's PHI - when a signed - written request is received - or upon the Veteran's valid authorization to a third party.

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: MRTs (ROI) must be proficient in spoken and written English

  • Experience and Education: 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

        • 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

        • 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 following experience and educational /training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:

    • 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

    • 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

  • The experience and Knowledge - Skill - Abilities (KSAs) required below must be evident in your resume

    • Lead Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) GS-0675-07

      • Experience

        • a) 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)

        • b) 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

        • c) Ability to apply policies - procedures - laws - and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information

        • d) Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner

      • Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities

        • In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

          • Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance - plan - organize - and coordinate activities of release of information to effectively complete job assignments (i.e. - distributing workload - monitoring the status and progress of work - monitoring accuracy of work - and ensuring required timelines are met.)

          • Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information

          • Ability to effectively communicate - both orally and in writing - to meet program objectives

          • Ability to prepare reports in various formats and present data to various organizational levels

          • Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training

        • Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

    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

    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

    Duties

    • Facilitates team or unit processes by working in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed - that good working relationships among team members and with management are maintained - and that team priorities and goals - needs - and achievements are coordinated with management

    • Performs lead functions over MRT (ROI) positions at the GS-4-6 grade levels

    • Serves as work leader - assuring the work assignments of employees in the unit are carried out

    • Distributes and balances workload and tasks among employees

    • Assures the timely accomplishment of work assigned to the team

    • Assures each team member has an integral role in developing the final product or providing the assigned service

    • Communicates to the team the problem to be solved or program issues under review and coaches the team and/or individual team members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution

    • Ensures the organization's \"vision\" is integrated into the team's goals - strategies - activity plans - and work products

    • Ensures team members participate in both short-term and long-term planning stages of team projects

    • Continually interacts with team members aimed at building consensus and to serve as negotiator and coach for coordination of team initiatives

    • Makes recommendations to supervisor as requested concerning promotions - reassignments - recognition of performance and personnel needs

    Functional Statement #

    13877F

    Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

    • Not authorized