Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open only to employees of the Robert J. Dole Wichita VAMC.

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Incumbent serves as technical expert in health record content and documentation requirements. Incumbent is responsible for performing quantitative and qualitative reviews of health record documentation for ongoing regulatory reviews and deficiency analysis. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring that all patient care data entered in the electronic health record (EHR) is accurate, timely, and complete. Adheres to established documentation requirements as outlined by The Joint Commission (TJC) regulations, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines, as well as medico-legal requirements.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Reviews health records for adherence with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines related to student, resident supervision and attending physician presence and documentation.
• Compiles reports to insure provider specific and service compliance.
• Maintains a control system to ensure completion of all inpatient and outpatient health records in accordance with VHA, TJC, CMS and other regulatory agencies standards.
• Reviews health records to ensure that all health records contain sufficient information to meet medico-legal requirements, to ensure continuity of patient care, and to support education and research needs.
• Notifies clinicians of missing, incomplete, or inaccurate information in their signature blocks (e.g., missing or inaccurate credentials).
• Assists clinicians with completion of delinquent/incomplete health records.
• Assesses the health record for completeness, identifies health record deficiencies, tracks deficiencies, and ensures that the appropriate individuals complete their deficiencies.
• Notates documentation deficiencies in the appropriate deficiency monitoring application. Tracks unsigned/uncosigned notes (e.g., progress notes, operative reports, discharge summaries, etc.) and encounters without associated progress notes, and communicates these deficiencies to clinical staff for completion.
• Notification can be in person, through secure email, via telephone, or through other acceptable means.
• Responsible for expediting the completion of the health record when the patient is transferred for care at another medical center, for legal requests, regulatory agencies review, and reimbursement purposes.
• Performs analytical tasks associated with the resolution of "filing" errors on reports uploaded by a transcription vendor.

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.

• 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.

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.

• Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and a 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 HIT work.

• 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, physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records)

• 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.

OR,

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 U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience, provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures.

English Language Proficiency. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a MRT HIT, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/ registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/ registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation, but will not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• (2) Employees appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials, as a condition of employment in the occupation.

GS-7 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, you must possess the following:

One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)

AND

Demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):

1. Ability to judge whether health records contain sufficient information for regulatory requirements, are acceptable as legal documents, are adequate for continuity of patient care, and support education and research needs.
2. Ability to take appropriate actions if health record content is not adequate, accurate, timely, and/or reliable.
3. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with individuals or groups, to facilitate compliance with established policies and regulations.
4. Skill in using appropriate software and computer applications to analyze and record documentation trends.
5. Ability to apply qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of health records.
6. Ability to work independently and utilize problem-solving techniques in the accomplishment of work.

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-07.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, but may require some walking, bending, stooping, standing, stretching, and carrying objects such as files/binders. Work also requires spending considerable time performing keyboarding and telephone duties.

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.