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Medical Records Administrator, (Assistant Chief (ACHIM))

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management Section of Health Administration Service at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center. Medical Record Administrators (MRAs) perform or supervise work concerned with the management of a medical record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services. MRAs manage, preserve, analyze, and supervise the use of diagnostic and therapeutic medical records/health information management.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/16/2025 to 09/26/2025
Salary
$92,702 to - $120,518 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Phoenix, AZ
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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
CBSX-12796847-25-MT
Control number
846080200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to ALL US CITIZENS

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Duties

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Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

  • Serves as the Assistant Chief of Health Information Management (ACHIM) in a medical facility of high complexity (level 1), with responsibility for the supervision of HIM functions. Incumbent is charged with full responsibility, both technical and administrative, for the daily operation of the HIM department which consists of all functions of medical record activities related to coding, analyzing, transcription, release of information, file room and scanning programs. Is a full assistant to the Chief, HIM. Provides expertise, guidance and direction and has responsibilities relative to providing supervision, administrative support, coordination, and technical assistance in the planning, development, and maintenance of an effective, comprehensive, and integrated HIM Program at this Medical Center. This position assists the Chief of Health Information Management (CHIM) in the planning, directing, policy making, organizing, and controlling the activities of this department and serves as acting CHIM in the absence of the CHIM.
  • Shares responsibility with the CHIMS for collecting and processing data for various reports, surveys, and research projects; for preparing reports and recommendations for review and consideration by the Chief, HAS and upper management concerning the immediate needs as well as the long-range goals of the department; for recommending equipment and staffing needs; and for preparing and keeping current procedures and operation manuals.
  • Responsible for assisting physicians and other health professionals in obtaining health record information to be used in research projects.
  • Advises on what material is available, how it may be obtained and the uses that can be made of the information while protecting the confidentiality of the record.
  • The incumbent aids in a variety of projects and is responsible for screening, abstracting and tallying data from records and computer-generated reports. May serve as a consultant to provide guidance and advise researchers on methods for gathering data.
  • Assists in selected miscellaneous retrospective health record review/data abstraction projects to support medical center Quality Management data collection activities.
  • Provides technical guidance to the unit supervisors and lead clerks while providing support to each unit in the absence of the section supervisor.
  • Provides expertise in the area of subpoenas, court orders, advance directives, and general release of information, as well as other medico-legal issues.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • 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).

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.
AND
  • Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following: (1) Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. OR, (2) HIM Certification through AHIMA, OR (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.
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: Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)) GS-12

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all the KSAs described at that level.
AND
Certification: Employees at this level must have a 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).
  • Loss of Credential. Following initial certification, credentials must be maintained through rigorous continuing education, ensuring the highest level of competency for employers and patients. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies, if a placement opportunity exists.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Skill in managing various projects and processes, which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems in health information management.
  • Ability to advise management and staff on a wide range of health information management practices based on current industry standards, [policies, statutes, laws, and regulations.
  • Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and/or advise on current health information management processes, and recommend changes in policies or procedures.
  • Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines, and accrediting bodies as they apply to health information management.
  • Ability to successfully apply principles and techniques of sound resource management (i.e., staffing, space, contracts, equipment).
  • Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties to include assignment of work, completing performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.

Preferred 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.

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

Physical Requirements: The majority of work will be sedentary, but standing, bending and traveling to a variety of locations within the medical center may be necessary.

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

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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