Medical Records Technician (Medical Coder)
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Description: Department Of Veterans Affairs is hiring Medical Records Technician (Medical Coder) right now, this position will be placed in Nebraska. Detailed specification about this position opportunity please read the description below. Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 975963
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have b! orne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
NOTE: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidateÂ's education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed. The salary is b! ased on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate! .
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Important: Current permanent VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System employees will be given first consideration.
NOTE: External candidates eligible for veterans preference will receive consideration prior to considering external non-preference applicants.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizenship
Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required.
Must pass pre-employment examination.
Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
Background and/or Security Investigation required.
English Language Proficiency required. DUTIES:
The Medical Records Technician will serve as a Medical Coder in the Health Information Manag! ement Section (HIMS) of the Business Office Service Line. The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
• Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (inpatient and/or outpatient) for one or more specialty and subspecialty health care services;
• Selects and assigns codes from the current version of one or more coding systems. Coding systems include the International Classification of Diseases - Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS);
• Reviews record documentation to abstract all required medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data;
• Assists facility staff with basic documentation requirements to reflect the patient care provided;
• Provides support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, acc! epted nomenclature, and proper sequencing;
• Ensures provider docu! mentation supports the diagnoses and procedures coded;
•Directly consult with the professional staff when conflicting or ambiguous clinical documentation is encountered;
•Ability to work within a team environment, support peers in meeting goals and deadlines, flexible and handles multiple tasks, works well under pressure, and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
NOTE: This position is being announced in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island; however, only one selection will be made.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
b. Experience and Education
(1) Experience. Two years of experience that demonstrates an ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work. Six months of the required 2 years of experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KS! As) needed to perform the work.
OR
(2) Education. Successful completion of an associate's degree with a major field of study in medical record technology/health information technology which was accredited by the American Health Information management Association (AHIMA) at the time the program was completed.
OR
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate in this provision for combining education and experience:
(a) Successful completion of an associate's degree in a field of study other than medical records/health information will substitute for 18 months of the required experience.
(b) 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 of the U.S. Maritime Services under close medical and pro! fessional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis fo! r up to 1 year of experience.
(c) Successful completion of a post-high school course of study in medical record technology, which includes courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures, may substitute on a month-for-month basis for up to 1 year of experience.
(d) Successful completion of post-high school courses for medical administrative personnel, obtained in a closely supervised training program given by the Armed Forces, may be substituted for experience on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures.
Preferred Experience:
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, diseases, treatments, diagnostic tests, and medications to ensure proper code selection;
• Credentials as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Certifie! d Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Based (CCS-P) from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or credentials as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Professional Coder - Hospital Based (CPC-H) from the American Association of Professional Coders (AACP).
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-05
(a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level (GS-04). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy/pathophysiology, and disease processes sufficient to appropriately file, locate, and disclose health information.
2. Ability to correctly apply a practical knowledge of laws and regulations related to the confidentiality of health! information and the release of information from medical records.
3! . Knowledge of the internal organization of medical records and medical record references and procedures as appropriate to the position.
4. Ability to use health information software appropriate to the position, such as the electronic patient record, record tracking systems, chart deficiency systems, coding and abstracting systems, release of information systems, document scanning technology, electronic speadsheets, transcription systems, release of information systems, document scanning technology, electronic spreadsheets, transcriptions systems, encoder products, electronic encounter forms, database software, etc.
OR
(b) Education. Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in medical record technology/health information technology or a related degree with courses related to medical record technology sufficient to evidence the core competencies identified.
GS-06
(a) Experience. O! ne year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS-05) and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy/pathophysiology, and disease processes to fully understand the content of a patient record.
2. Ability to navigate efficiently through the paper and electronic medical record to find needed information;
3. Skill in interpreting and adapting health information guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity and ability to use judgment in completing assignments with incomplete or inadequate guidelines.
4. Ability to apply laws and regulations on the confidentiality of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);
5. Comprehensive knowledge of classification systems, such as current versions of Internat! ional Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Technology (! CPT), the Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), and skill in applying coding knowledge.
GS-07
(a) Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06) and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of classification systems, such as current versions of ICD, CPT, SNOMED or HCPCS, and skill in applying coding knowledge to a wide range of specialty areas;
2. Knowledge of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as well as Medicare/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and/or VHA medical record documentation requirements;
3. Ability to communicate with clinical staff on coding and documentation issues such as recording inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and procedures, the use of encounter forms, and correct sequencing of diagnoses/procedures, and/or the rel! ationship between health care documentation and code assignment;
4. Ability to research and solve complex questions related to coding and documentation, such as adequate health information documentation, coding, billing, resident supervision, etc; and
5. Skill in reviewing and correcting system or processing errors, reviewing transmission reports, and ensuring all assigned episodes are complete and accurate as appropriate to the duties assigned.
GS-08
(a) Experience. One year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07) and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Ability to analyze the medical record to identify all pertinent diagnoses and procedure for coding, and to evaluate the adequacy of the documentation. This includes the ability to read and understand the content of the medical record, the terminology, the significance of the comments, and the disease process/pat! hophysiology of the patient;
2. Skill in reviewing medical record d! ocumentation and assigning current versions of the classification systems required in the current position such as ICD and CPT; and
3. Advanced knowledge of the full scope of coding and abstracting including inpatient discharges, surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, outpatient encounters, and inpatient professional fees for a highly diversified range of specialties and sub specialties, such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, spinal cord injury, blind rehabilitation, anesthesia, acute and long term care psychiatry including addiction treatment, hospice, ambulatory surgery, and other types of care.
References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G35, Medical Record Technician Qualification Standard.
PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions! with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS: The work is primarily performed while sitting though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and reoccurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc. and occasional visits to activity work sites. Occasional use of automobile and public conveyances may be required.
Veterans' Preference:! When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim prefere! nce on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a ! comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp . OTHER INFORMATION:
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
T! his position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive! status.
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If you were eligible to this position, please email us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department Of Veterans Affairs.
If you interested on this position just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This position starts available on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:44:27 GMT