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.

Duties

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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: ADHOC (this is not remote/ virtual)

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

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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 (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 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

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. a7 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. NOTE. See paragraph A below for a detailed definition of Coding Certification. OR,
  • HIM Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. See paragraph B below for a detailed definition of Health Data Analyst Certification: OR,
  • Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. See paragraph C below for a detailed definition of Health Information Management (HIM) Certification

NOTE: HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.

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 paragraph 2d of this appendix for detailed definitions of HIM Certification. AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  
  • 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 facility policies and] procedures to improve health information management services and to evaluate, modify, and/or adapt new methods to meet regulatory requirements.
  • Skill in analyzing [complex] data [, interpreting and trending results for effective management of the HIM program.]
  • [Skill] in management/administration, which includes program planning, coordination, interpretation, supervision, consultation, negotiation, problem solving, and monitoring [of HIM processes.
  • Ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, accomplish program goals, and adapt to changing priorities

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).

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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.

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.

Benefits

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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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