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 position is open to current VHA employees.

Videos

**This is NOT a remote position and must be located at one of the VISN 2 locations listed on this announcement. Telework is NOT authorized**

• This assignment serves as the MRA VISN HIM with responsibility for the management and direction of the health information management program. VISN medical record administrators serve at the Network level and have health information management oversight responsibilities for the Network.
• The MRA VISN HIM is responsible for the programmatic oversight of HIM programs and assures that the VISN has a state-of-the-art HIM program that meets all accreditation, regulatory, and VA requirements, in addition to meeting the needs of executive management. The MRA VISN HIM coordinates overall strategy for HIM services across the multi-facility integrated healthcare system.
• They implement and support all VISN HIM initiatives and activities and provide operational support to HIM departments at the facility level. The MRA VISN HIM develops, implements, and provides oversight to facility HIM leadership in the management of accuracy and timeliness of work, work processes, and overall workload responsibilities.
• This position is responsible for all aspects of the HIM program, which includes developing and/or acquiring shared resources, such as contracts, staff, and education and training opportunities.
• VISN 2 has a combined operating budget of $3.5 Billion and is comprised of 9 facilities comprising of 5 Healthcare Systems and 4 VA Medical Centers, a network of 58 Community Based Outpatient Clinics across 76 counties throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. VISN 2 provides personalized, proactive, patient-centered care to more than 500,000 Veterans throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
• Functions as the VISN Health Information Management (HIM) Manager. Collaborates with all VA medical facilities within the VISN to identify HIM program strengths and weaknesses, to determine corrective actions for remediation when applicable, and to identify potential best practices for implementation at all facilities within the VISN.
• Responsible for coordination and oversight of all HIM activities across the VISN. This 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 agencies requirements. Initiates, develops, oversees, and directs HIM program areas, and produces work products such as written policies, standard operating procedures, guidelines, references, and training.
• Has program oversight responsibility for all HIM functional areas such as medical coding, clinical documentation integrity (CDI), health records processing and completion, scanning and indexing, file room, release of information (ROI), and transcription/speech recognition.
• Represents HIM on a wide variety of groups, committees, and task forces, which requires a thorough understanding of HIM policies, requirements, and business needs.
• Ensures those needs are adequately articulated and included in any policy or process development. Acts as HIM subject matter expert and advisor to various customers, agencies, programs, and offices within, and external to, the VISN.
• Measures ongoing facility HIM performance by establishing priorities, collecting data, monitoring, and reporting outcomes, using valid and reliable techniques to analyze trends and variation, and taking appropriate action based on findings.
• Responsible for all aspects of HIM for the VISN 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 and research, facilitate performance improvement processes and legal requirements.
• Evaluates facility HIM programs and independently determines the nature and extent of problem areas.
• Creates recommendations and solutions for program improvement.
• Develops and implements innovative solutions to correct technical, complex problems. Provides detailed technical expertise in health records science and other very technical aspects of HIM.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00-4:30 EST
Telework: Not authorized

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.
• 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.
• Must have a current valid driver's license in a state

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.
• 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).

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: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of GS12 that demonstrates the KSAs described at that level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSAs [as well as the supervisory KSA (*) if applicable:

1. Ability to maintain effectiveness and adapt proficiently to changes in the environment, work structure, processes, tasks, or requirements.
2. Skill in developing new policies and procedures for administering health information management programs to improve program effectiveness and/or apply newly developed programs or theories to problems that require new approaches.
3. Knowledge of the legal, ethical, and professional standards, as they apply to health information management.
4. Ability to provide sound, technical guidance to the professional staff and executive leadership regarding major programs, legal, or procedural changes related to health information management.
5. Skill in conducting studies, analyzing data, and presenting results.
6. Skill in management/administration, which includes program planning, coordination, interpretation, consultation, negotiation, problem solving, and monitoring.
7. * Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment of work; completing performance evaluations; selection of staff; and recommendation for awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions, when appropriate.

Preferred Experience: Experience leading Health Information Management (HIM) programs across multiple facilities, including oversight of coding, documentation integrity, records management, release of information, data quality, compliance, and health information systems. Experience providing executive-level consultation on regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, privacy, health record documentation, revenue optimization, and healthcare informatics. Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff, managing budgets, leading performance improvement initiatives, and implementing enterprise-wide health information technology solutions.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.