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Medical Records Administrator (Chief (CHIM))

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of the Medical Administration Service (MAS) at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. Medical Records Administrators (RAs) in VHA perform or supervise work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services.



Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/06/2026 to 09/04/2026
Salary
$121,785 to - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Martinsburg, WV
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTF-12904485-26-JH
Control number
860310300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties

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Functions

  • Responsible for complex, multi-disciplinary processes and functions, which may include multiple contacts, academic affiliations, and highly sophisticated regulatory requirements. Must ensure the HIM program complies with national HIM policies and procedures and meets or exceed national HIM performance metrics. 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, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and other regulatory and accrediting agency standards.
  • 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
  • Provides detailed technical expertise in health records science and other very technical aspect of HIM. Maintains all health information entered into local databases and assures timely transmission of that data into all VA centralized databases-most frequently those maintained at the Austin Data Processing Center. Ensures all health information that is coded and abstracted meets the requirements of the VHA and/or TJC and is consistent with professional health records standards.
  • Serves as a key advisor to the Chief of Staff, Executive Management, clinical and administrative staff is responsible for providing technical guidance on health information issues such as documentation requirements, encounter completion, industry and federal regulatory compliance, advance directives, informed consent, clinical documentation integrity, medical coding, release of information, transcription/speech recognition, scanning and indexing health information exchange.
  • Conducts training on various topics related to HIM, such as medical terminology, health record documentation, release of information, medico-legal matters, speech recognition/transcription, scanning and indexing, medical coding, clinical documentation integrity, and health information exchange.
  • Performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised.
  • Responsible for maintenance and evaluation of health records and assuring legal requirements for care are met. Develop and coordinate internal review systems to assure that both clinical and administrative activities comply with agency and accrediting and regulatory requirements.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00AM-4:30PM
Functional Statement #: 26554-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 dentification 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.
  • 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.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level. The demonstrated KSAs include:
  • Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management.
  • Skill in evaluating, developing and implementing new policies , procedures, and programs.
  • Ability to provide program oversight, including advisory and technical expertise on a range of health information management practices and guidelines to staff at various levels.
  • Ability to develop and conduct training on health information management programs, policies, procedures, and performance improvement activities.
  • Ability to effectively procure and manage HIM resources (i.e. space, staffing, education, budget, etc.).
  • Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment 12 of work; completing performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
  • Customer service skills necessary to effectively communicate (written and verbal) and interact with all levels of hospital personnel, physicians, patients, and outside agencies.
  • Ability to deal effectively with sensitive and/or complex situations
AND

(b) 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.
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-11. 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

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Applicants will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. This announcement will remain open until September 4, 2026.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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