Medical Records Technician (Release of Information)

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: English Language Proficiency Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and 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 (ROI) 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 and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records). TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements. The following experience and 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 courses. (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 Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. The training program may be substituted on a month for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above the following is the amount of experience required to qualify for this position at the GS-4 through GS-6 grade level. GS-4 Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements above. GS-5 Level Experience or Education: 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) 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.).(b) Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information.(c) Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues.(d) Knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information.(e) Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport. GS-6 Level Experience: At least one full year experience as a MRT (ROI) equivalent to the next lower level (GS-5) which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position to be filled. Experience must demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information and ability to apply said laws and regulations related to the 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); ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion; ability to follow up on pending issues in order to meet required response times; and ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) 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).(b) 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.(c) Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information to process requests for release of information.(d) Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to release of health information in an accurate and timely manner. References: VA Handbook 5005/79, Part II, Appendix G35, Medical Record Technician Qualification Standards, 9/5/2014. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.Full performance level of a Medical Record Technician (ROI) is a GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-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. Work Environment: The work area is usually an adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated office or medical facility setting. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.
This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the VA Illiana Health Care System (VAIHCS). 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 Veterans PHI, when a signed, written request is received, or upon the Veterans valid authorization to a third party.