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:

• 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. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• Experience and Education: (1) Experience
• One year of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record
• Six months of the required one year of experience must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT work
• *See Creditable Experience Below OR, (2) Education
• Two years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours directly related to MRT work (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, and introduction to health records)
• OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience: (a) Six months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses
• (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 or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures
• Also requires six additional months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record
• 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)
• GS-6: Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate MUST demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 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, Part II, Appendix G58.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at GS-06
• Physical Requirements: The duties of this position are primarily sedentary
• May include but is not limited to: standing 2 hours per day, use of both hands, use of fingers and sitting up to 8 hours per day.