Medical Records Administrator (Chief Health Information Management)

<p>A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED This assignment is the Chief Health Information Management (CHIM), which is the highest-level professional position at the facility with responsibility to manage and direct the health information management program. The CHIM has full program management and supervisory responsibility to direct professional Medical Records Administrators, Medical Records Technicians, and other support staff in health information management.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The first cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 6/15/2026. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 6/22/2026. Eligible applications received after 6/15/2026 will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis. General Functions Serve as Chief of Health Information Management (CHIM) with full program responsibility for all facets of the Health Information Management (HIM) program and processes. Ensure HIM program meets and exceed national HIM policies, procedures, and performance metrics. Responsible for the administrative management of health records; plan, manage, advise, and direct the health information program in accordance with applicable Federal laws, facility by-laws, VHA policy, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and other regulatory and accrediting agency standards. Responsible for all facets of health records management for the facility ensuring maintenance of complete, accurate, timely, clinically pertinent, and readily-accessible patient health records, which contain sufficient recorded information to serve as a basis to plan patient care, support diagnoses, warrant treatment, measure outcomes, support education, research, and facilitate performance improvement processes and legal requirements. Develop policies, processes, and procedures that address all VA, Federal, regulatory, and accrediting requirements for HIM. Clinical Support Role Be a key advisor to the Chief of Staff, Executive Management, and clinicians. Provide technical guidance on health information issues such as documentation requirements, liability issues, advance directives, informed consent, release of information, transcription/speech recognition, and health information exchange. Complete internal quality assurance reviews to ensure employee performance meets quality and quantity standards. Provide management officials with health records review results and trends on an ongoing basis. Administration and Strategic Planning Has full operational responsibility to set and carry out the strategic direction, mission, and vision for VAPSHCS' Health Information Management Services. Coordinate individual and group activities to accomplish overall VA, VISN, and Puget Sound goals. Coordinate plans with needs of various VA strategic health groups, provide subject matter expertise, advice, assistance, and guidance in response to questions posed by the Service Line Leaders and other System staff on health information management policy and program needs/issues at the local, VISN and national levels. Contract Management Administer the Transcription and Coding Contract(s); prepare and monitor budget for contract. Ensure outsourced coding personnel understand and agree to adhere to VA and Puget Sound's HIM compliance program and complete yearly required confidentiality, privacy, and security training. Ensure quality controls are in place for any scope of work conducted by contractors. Collaborate with Service Lines to improve documentation, coding, and reporting for workload, billing, Fee Basis, and other emerging initiatives. Auditing and Training Develop and coordinate training programs in various areas of health information management, such as medical terminology, health record documentation, release of information, medico-legal matters, speech recognition/transcription, scanning, medical coding, clinical documentation improvement, and health information exchange. Responsible for establishing formal affiliation with university programs in health information and precepting students from such programs. Responsible for coordinating health information training for medical school students and residents to achieve conformance with prescribed standards. Personnel Management Responsible for overall personnel management for staff in the assigned units and determines staffing patterns and reassigns personnel to meet changing conditions. Make selections for immediate subordinate positions. Review and approve selections made by subordinate supervisors. Community Service Develop and maintain affiliation agreements with AHIMA recognized schools and programs for health information management and technology. Provide internship and directed student learning opportunities for HIM students and newly graduated professionals; actively support other training such as Veteran Work-Study, Veteran Readjustment Employees, and numerous programs with local learning institutions. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>IMPORTANT: If basing your qualifications on education, you must submit a copy of all relevant transcripts with your application. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the degree or program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate type. Your transcript will be reviewed for relevant coursework; therefore, the uploaded copy must be legible. 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/.