This position is in the Health Information Management (HIM) service at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, in Canandaigua, NY. The MRT (ROI) reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI). THE MRT (ROI) also provides direct customer service to the Veteran (or third party), by providing copies of the Veteran's PHI, when a signed, written request is received, or upon the Veteran's valid authorization to a third party.
Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Must be a United States Citizen. English: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English. Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health record. Six months of the required one year of creditable experience must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT work. This experience should include positions that required the knowledge of basic knowledge of medical terminology; basic knowledge of disease processes and human anatomy; basic knowledge of medical record/health information guidelines, techniques, and procedures; and knowledge of the medical and legal significance of medical records. --OR-- 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 and physiology, legal . Transcripts Required. --OR-- Combination Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following education/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience: (a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses. (b) Successful completion of a course of medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the 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. Transcripts Required. GRADE DETERMINATION: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of creditable experience and/or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-4 through GS-6 grade level. GS-04 Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements above. GS-05 Level Experience demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (ROI) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, release of information systems, etc.); (2) Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information; (3) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues; (4) knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information; (5) Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport. OR GS-05 Level Education: At least 1 year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-4) or successful completion of a bachelor'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 management, or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records). Transcripts required. GS-06 Level Experience: At least one full year of creditable experience as an MRT (ROI) to the next lower level (GS-5) which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position to be filled. Creditable experience must demonstrate skill in applying, interpreting, and analyzing laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information; educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information; receiving and validating authorization forms and request; using various computer applications to track and release authorized ROI requests initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. In addition, can demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 38 U.S.C. 7332, Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records); (2) Ability to apply health record documentation guidelines and processes to navigate efficiently through the paper and/or electronic health record to locate, assemble, and disclose protected health information; (3) Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information; (4) Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner. Preferred Experience: At least 1-2 years in healthcare setting (hospital or clinic), HIPAA privacy and compliance, understanding of Release of Information Standards and Rules relating to security, access, and privacy. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of G-4 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary, but may require walking, bending, standing, and /or carrying of light items such as files and manuals. The work does not require any special physical effort or ability.
The duties in this position are primarily advisory and technical in nature. Incumbent is responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each completed authorization form. Screens each request for information to determine urgency and assures that most urgent requests are completed first using established priority systems. Personally greets veterans/visitors and assists them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released. Applies public laws, rules regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical records, including the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act and 38 U.S.C. 7332 governing the release of records containing information regarding the treatment of or referral for drug and/or alcohol abuse, Sickle Cell Anemia and infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Searches records or files to compose responses, including electronic searches to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data. Locates materials that would verify information given. Review paper and computerized health records (i.e., scanned notes, reports, special tests, etc.) to identify material to be photocopied/printed/written to electronic media and released. Resolves conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests. This involves dealing with patients and/or third parties to resolve discrepancies, sorting out errors and reconstructing past transactions, cases, or events, or finding alternative source of information. Completes and processes routine releases of information to other VA and Federal Agencies and when requested, to patients and their families, insurance representatives, physicians, hospitals, and city and state health agencies according to VA directives. Completes necessary transactions for deposit of money collected from subpoenas, legal fees, and processing fees for release of information to individuals and insurance companies. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21X01-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Salary Ranges: GS-4: $36,301- $52,794 GS-5: $40,614 - $52,794 GS-6:$45,274 - $58,854