[Hiring] Supervisory Medical Records Technician (Coder - Outpatient and Inpatient) @GV Sonny Montgomery VAMC

Role Description

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. MRTs (Coder) are skilled in classifying medical data from patient health records in the hospital setting, and/or physician-based settings, such as physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, and specialty centers. These coding practitioners analyze and abstract patients' health records, and assign alpha-numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure.

Responsibilities

• Applies comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Selects and assigns codes from the current version of several coding systems to include current versions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC.
• Performs a comprehensive review of the electronic health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.
• Provides daily operational oversight of all coding functions to ensure needs are met by adjusting staffing, investigating workflow issues, answering coder questions, ensuring turnaround times are maintained, developing action plans, and following appropriate escalations.
• Develops performance standards and conducts performance evaluations for subordinate staff. Identifies, communicates, and ensures coding staff meet productivity and accuracy standards. Interviews new employees, recommends selection, and carries out training and development activities, awards, or disciplinary action.
• Prepares workload and production reports; reports on operations and problems encountered; and presents proposed requests for resource needs based on past experience, anticipated staffing, equipment, and space.
• Conducts provider training to improve health record documentation for the episodes of care provided.
• Coordinates with other unit/service representatives on matters concerning health record documentation and coding, as well as changes and challenges that may have an impact on other units or services.
• Reviews coding and assists coders in improving coding accuracy; provides coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations; initiates various reports and analyzes data; and coordinates, assigns, and monitors the workflow.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

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: MRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Experience and Education:
  • One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of health records.
  • OR, 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.
  • OR, 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.
  • OR, equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.

Requirements

• Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either:
  • Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
  • Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
• Mastery Level Certification is required for all positions above the journey level.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, full-time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.