Supervisory Medical Records Technician (ROI)

Summary

This position is in the Business Office Service Line - Health Information Management (HIM) section at the District of Columbia, Washington VA Medical Center. The MRT (ROI) reviews and processes requests for patient patient-protected 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.

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Duties

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Duties to include but not limited to:

• Incumbent serves as supervisor and technical expert for the Release of Information Unit. Provides guidance and suggestions to the Chief, HIM and Assistant, Chief HIM regarding staffing needs and shortages within the ROI section.
• Provides guidance and technical direction necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit or team.
• Provides effective audits and monitors for all areas of responsibility, assuring that accurate and timely data is processed by all employees. Reviews work accomplished and assesses quality, quantity, accuracy and timeliness of work produced by each employee. Ascertains problems encountered and takes corrective action.
• Develops performance standards and conducts performance evaluations. Develops and conducts competency assessments. Responsible for carrying out established personnel functions and practices. Keeps employees informed about important aspects of personnel management programs. Formulates and initiates performance standards.
• Interviews new employees, recommends selection, and carries out training and development of assignments, awards or disciplinary action. Approves leave and establishes work schedules. Implements provisions of EEO programs to ensure fair and equal treatment for all employees.
• Prepares formal requests and recommendations for promotions, reassignments, other status changes, or recognition of outstanding performance of assigned employees. Prepares and submits functional statements for new positions, clarification, or updates. Receives formal grievances, resolving those that can be resolved by the first level supervisor. Takes disciplinary action as deemed necessary and proposes to higher authority specific disciplinary action. Keeps employees informed of management goals and objectives and higher levels supervisors informed of employee participation and concerns.
• Ensures that release of information activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of and adherence to privacy policies and procedures are performed and coordinated in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations including the Privacy Act of 1974, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE).
• Ensures that record retrieval and record transfers to other VA facilities for the purposes of continuity of patient care and release of information are timely.
• Maintains contact with VA Regional Counsel (VARO) in all matters relating to malpractice, subpoena actions and request for preparation of TORT records. Assist in performing 100% quality review of all TORT cases prior to sending records to VARO for litigation. Prepares weekly ROI and TORT record turnaround statistics.
• Monitors workload and production of staff, taking action where necessary to meet deadlines, monitors/evaluate performance and ensures accuracy of work completed. Assures that the work of staff is at an appropriate quality and productivity level.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm EST

Compressed/Flexible :Not Authorized

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 .

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework : Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

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, medical coding, and introduction to health records);

OR,

Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed;

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.

Physical Requirements. Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items no more than 10 pounds.

English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English

Grade Determinations :

Supervisory Medical Records Technician (ROI), GS-8

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

(2) Assignment. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment performs supervision, administrative management, and direction of release of information staff, which includes GS-7 MRT (ROI-Legal), and lead MRT (ROI) positions. They have full supervisory responsibility, including preparing work assignments, monitoring the performance of release of information staff, evaluating employee performance, selecting staff, recommending awards and advancements, and taking disciplinary actions. The supervisory MRT(ROI) generates workload reports, distributes pending workload to staff, and monitors completion status. The employee ensures the timely release of health records in accordance with policies and procedures. They ensure compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements and ensure corrective action is initiated, as needed. They work collaboratively with VA Regional Counsel to ensure health records related to malpractice, subpoenas, and tort cases are prepared and disclosed in a timely manner. The supervisory MRT (ROI) ensures orientation and competency assessments are conducted for all assigned staff. They develop policies and procedures, performance standards, and position descriptions, and/or functional statements. They are responsible for professional and administrative management of release of information staff. They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals.

(3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to develop policy and provide workload analysis for release of information.(b) Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.(c) Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.(d) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, to include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed, performance evaluation, selection of staff, recommendations of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

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: 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:

Additional information

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

WHOLE HEALTH

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care."

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.