Hybrid Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM)) na Department of Veterans Affairs

Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM))

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Jefferson Barracks, Missouri

Salary Range: $93796 - $121930 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is in the Health Information Management (HIM) Service at the VA St. Louis Health Care System St. Louis, Missouri. Medical Records Administrator Specialist (MRASs) in VHA perform or supervise work concerned with the management of a health record program or the provision of services related to medical record administration/health information services. MRASs manage, preserve, analyze, and supervise the use of diagnostic and therapeutic health records/HIM.

Major Duties:

• The Assistant Chief of Health Information Management (ACHIM) is responsibility for the supervision of all HIM functions and is the right hand of Chief HIM (CHIM). The ACHIM is charged with full responsibility, both technical and administrative, for the daily operation of the HIM department which consists of all functions of health record activities related to coding, clinical documentation improvement, health record documentation analysis, speech recognition, release of information, and file room/scanning programs. Major Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Organize and control the activities of the department Serve as acting Chief in absence of Chief Lead HIM teams/projects Collect and process data for various reports, surveys and research projects Prepare reports and recommendations on immediate needs and future goals of the department Prepare current procedures and operation manuals Assist health professionals in obtaining health record information Maintain confidentiality of records Provide guidance/advise researchers on methods for gathering data Assure accurate and timely data is processed by employees Ascertain problems encountered and take corrective action Develop performance standards Train and educate teams and staff across the medical center Remain abreast of changes in the HIM filed/allied medical fields Apply information and knowledge to support operations of the hospital Conduct performance evaluations Manage competency assessments Interview prospective employees Conduct performance improvement plans Provide technical guidance to supervisors, lead clerks etc. Provide expertise in area of subpoenas, court orders, advance directives, ROI, etc. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30 pm CST Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 or Education: 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. Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following: Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. Coding Certification: Mastery certification obtained through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC). To be acceptable for qualification, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Stand-alone specialty certifications do not meet the definition of mastery level coding certification and are not acceptable for qualifications. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of mastery level coding certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies; however, current mastery level coding certifications include: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) - Physician-based (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). HIM Certification through AHIMA. 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). Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. Health Data Analyst Certification: This is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must certify mastery in health data analysis. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of health data analyst certification may be added/removed by the above certifying body; however, current health data analyst certification includes Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA). 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: GS-12, Medical Records Administrator (Assistant Chief (ACHIM))- 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. AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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: Minimum 3 years of experience leading an HIM department or served as MRAS. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This position is above the full performance level. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Office setting is adequately heated, lighted and ventilated as well as meeting rooms and classrooms. Position may require occasional travel within the Health Care System. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there is usually some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, files, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/28/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12765659. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-07-28