[Hiring] Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Coder) @Birmingham VA Medical Center

Role Description

The Business Office is seeking a full-time Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Coder) for the VA Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Coder) provides oversight of coding staff at the facility level. The incumbent must be able to perform all duties of a Medical Records Technician (Coder) and is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of coding staff. The duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Monitor ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC.
• Review coding and assist coders in improving coding accuracy; provide coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations; initiate various reports and analyze data; and coordinate, assign, and monitor the workflow.
• Keep abreast of all regulations and guidelines governing the coding section, ensuring that staff supervised is educated as needed. Ensure that regulatory guidelines and current coding conventions are followed.
• Monitor the status and progress of work and day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, reference materials, and supplies.
• Develop performance standards and conduct performance evaluations for subordinate staff. Interview new employees, recommend selection, and carry out training and development of reassignments, awards, or disciplinary action.
• Schedule the sequence of work and operations on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis to assure even workflow and distribution, expeditious handling of priorities, and the meeting of deadlines.
• Prepare workload and production reports; report on operations and problems encountered; and present proposed requests for resource needs based on past experience, anticipated staffing, equipment, and space.
• Analyze and recommend improvements in documentation systems used to provide patient care to optimize VERA workload, third-party reimbursement, and to manage resources.
• Required to train others on the encoder product suite. Utilize this system on an ongoing basis to perform core coding duties and audits.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm

Telework: Available

Virtual: This is a virtual/remote position.

Functional Statement #: 53009F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of health records.
• 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.
• Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding.
• Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.

Requirements

• Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. You MUST upload proof of certification to support your response.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.
• In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities as follows:
• Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties, including recommending awards, approving leave, evaluating work, resolving staff issues, and assigning, planning, and coordinating work.
• Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS for the subspecialty being assigned.
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Leadership and managerial skills, including skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.
• Ability to collect and analyze data, identify trends, and present results in various formats.

Physical Requirements

The position is basically sedentary involving little physical effort.