Medical Records Administrator

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of Health Information Management Service at the New Mexico VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Medical Records Administrators (MRAs) in the 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.

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: candidates must be a citizen of the United States.
• Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy.
• Education or
  
  Experience:
  
  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 healthcare 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 equal 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
    • Employees at this level must have a HIM Certification through AHIMA.
    • 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).
  • English Language Proficiency
    • MRAs must be proficient in spoken and written English.
    • 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).
    • All persons employed in VHA as an MRA are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
    • For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard – but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed – the following provisions apply:
      Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level – or changed to lower grade within the occupation – but may not be promoted beyond the [journeyman] level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
    • Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis – prior to the effective date of the qualification standard – may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
    • Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/[registration/certification – and meet all the basic…