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 and Education
• 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
• 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, physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records)
• OR Combination of Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements
• The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: (a) 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
• (b) 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, Medical Records Technician (HIT), GS-07applicants must possess the following grade requirements
• Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• In addition, applicants must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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
• Ability to take appropriate actions if health record content is not adequate, accurate, timely, and/or reliable
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with individuals or groups, to facilitate compliance with established policies and regulations
• Skill in using appropriate software and computer applications to analyze and record documentation trends
• Ability to apply qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of health records
• 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 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
• Duties require extensive use of fingers to perform keyboarding and the ability to hear requests by phone and in person
• Must be able to adequately read and prepare documents.