Medical Records Technician (Release Of Information)

The purpose of the position is to serve as a Medical Records Technician, Release of Information (ROI) located in the Health Information Management Section of the Business Office at the VA New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, NJ.
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 - Medical Records Technician (ROI):

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens)
• Experience and Education
  • Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health records. Six months of the required one year of creditable experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT (ROI) work. OR,
  • 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 (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records). OR,
  • Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements. The following experience and educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:
    • Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and Release of Information, the health record, and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology/health information management courses.
    • Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and Release of Information, the health record, and 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 or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. The training program may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology, and health record techniques and procedures.

• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
• English Language Proficiency. MRTs (ROI) must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must meet the grade specific requirements specified below for consideration at that grade. In addition to the grade experience below, the candidate must demonstrate all of the listed Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
MRT (ROI), GS-4
Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements.
Assignment. Employees at this level serve in entry level MRT (ROI) position and receive close supervision and support from more experienced ROI staff members. MRTs (ROI) receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information, and prioritize requests per policies and regulations. They use various computer applications to track and release all authorized ROI requests. They process and release health information to authorized first- and third-party requestors. MRTs (ROI) initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. They ensure compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and Release of Information.
MRT (ROI), GS-5
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR,
Education. Successful completion of a bachelor'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 management, or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records).
Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve in developmental positions as MRTs (ROI) and receive guidance from more experienced staff members for complex Release of Information procedures. They receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations. They utilize various computer applications to track and release all authorized Release of Information requests. They also process and release health information to authorized first- and third-party requestors. They initiate and maintain accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. They communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the Release of Information process. They ensure compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and Release of Information.
KSAs:
-Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products utilized in MRT (ROI) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, Release of Information systems, etc.).
-Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and processes for disclosing protected health information.
-Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work in order to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues.
-Knowledge of policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and Release of Information.
-Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds to obtain the desired effect or gaining information by establishing rapport.
MRT (ROI), GS-6
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Assignment. This is considered the journey level for MRT (ROI) positions. Employees at this level apply, interpret, and analyze laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information. MRTs (ROI) are responsible for educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information. They receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations. They use various computer applications to track and release all authorized Release of Information requests. MRTs (ROI) process and release health information to authorized first- and third party requestors. They initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. They communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the Release of Information process. They ensure compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and Release of Information.
KSAs:
-Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and 38 U.S.C. 7332, Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records).
-Ability to apply health record documentation guidelines and processes to navigate efficiently through the paper and/or electronic health record to locate, assemble, and disclose protected health information.
-Ability to apply policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and Release of Information to process requests for Release of Information.
-Ability to research and solve difficult questions related to Release of health information in an accurate and timely manner.
References: VA Handbook 5005/123 PART II APPENDIX G58
Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: FULL_TIME