Medical Records Technician (CDIS) - Outpatient and Inpatient
Medical Records Technician (Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS)-Outpatient and Inpatient)) is responsible for reviewing the overall quality and completeness of clinical documentation. Inpatient CDI focuses on the concurrent review of patient records with an emphasis on improving documentation while the patient is still in-house while outpatient CDI focuses on improving clinical staff documentation of outpatient encounters through retrospective, ideally prior to coding and billing, review of outpatient encounters and extensive provider education. The Incumbent reviews clinical documentation and provides education to clinical staff on both inpatient and outpatient episodes of care including admissions and discharges, observation, emergency department/urgent care, and clinic visits. They prepare and conduct provider education on documentation processes in the health record to include the impact of documentation on coding, workload, quality measures, reimbursement, and funding. The incumbent compiles, reviews, abstracts, analyzes and interprets medical data incidental to a variety of patient care and treatment activities. Conducts daily reviews of all new admissions to designated clinical services to identify those with potential documentation improvements through periodic evaluation during the patient's stay. Reviews the health record and discusses the case with the clinical staff. Performs admission reviews for specific patient populations to facilitate appropriate clinical documentation and ensures the level of services and acuity of care are accurately reflected in the health record. Reviews the appropriateness of patient working Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) and length of stay information by reviewing all clinical documentation, lab results, diagnostic information and treatment to ensure documentation reflects severity of illness, acuity and resource consumption. Additional duties as assigned. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives:
May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Work Schedule:
Monday thru Friday; 8:
00 am until 4:
30 pm Telework:
Not authorized. Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records. OR, (2) 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, medical coding, and introduction to health records); OR, (3) Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed; OR, (4) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable
Experience:
(a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and 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 health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder). Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1), (2), or (3) below:
(1) Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (2) Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (3) Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Grade Determinations:
Medical Records Technician (Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS)-Outpatient and Inpatient)), GS-9 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level of a MRT (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient); OR, An associate's degree or higher, and three years of experience in clinical documentation improvement (candidates must also have successfully completed coursework in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records); OR, Mastery level certification through AHIMA or AAPC and two years of experience in clinical documentation improvement; OR, Clinical experience such as RN, M.D., or DO, and one year of experience in clinical documentation improvement. Certification. Employees at this level must have either a mastery level certification or a clinical documentation improvement certification as per the below:
Master Level Certification:
This is considered a higher-level health information management or coding certification and is limited to those obtained through AHIMA or AAPC. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Stand-alone specialty certifications do not meet the definition of mastery level certification & are not acceptable for qualifications. Certification titles may change & certifications that meet the definition of mastery level certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies. However, current mastery level certifications include:
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Informatic Administrator (RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Cordera (COC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification:
This is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA or the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS). To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must certify mastery in clinical documentation. Certification titles may change, & certifications that meet the definition of clinical documentation improvement certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies. However, current Clinical Documentation Improvement Certifications include:
Clinical Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP) & Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
i. Knowledge of coding and documentation concepts, guidelines, and clinical terminology. ii. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology to interpret and analyze all information in a patient's health record, including laboratory and other test results to identify opportunities for more precise and/or complete documentation in the health record. iii. Ability to collect and analyze data and present results in various formats, which may include presenting reports to various organizational levels. iv. Ability to establish and maintain strong verbal and written communication with providers. v. Knowledge of regulations that define healthcare documentation requirements, including The Joint Commission, CMS, and VA guidelines. vi. Extensive knowledge of coding rules and regulations, to include current clinical classification systems such as ICDCM and PCS, CPT, and HCPCS. They must also possess knowledge of complication or comorbidity/major complication or comorbidity (CC/MCC), MS-DRG structure, and POA indicators. vii. Knowledge of severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care for inpatients, and CPT Evaluation and Management (E/M) criteria to ensure the correct selection of E/M codes that match patient type, setting of service, and level of E/M service provided for outpatients. viii. Knowledge of training methods and teaching skills sufficient to conduct continuing education for staff development. The training sessions may be technical in nature or may focus on teaching techniques for the improvement of clinical documentation issues. 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). References:
VA Handbook 5005/122 Part II; Appendix G57 Medical Records Technician (Coder) Qualification Standard Physical Requirements:
Traveling throughout the medical center and to CBOC locations is required, as is performing activities involving driving, sitting, walking, standing, bending, reaching and carrying such items as books, papers, and files.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Work Schedule:
Monday thru Friday; 8:
00 am until 4:
30 pm Telework:
Not authorized. Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records. OR, (2) 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, medical coding, and introduction to health records); OR, (3) Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed; OR, (4) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable
Experience:
(a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and 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 health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder). Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1), (2), or (3) below:
(1) Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (2) Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (3) Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Grade Determinations:
Medical Records Technician (Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS)-Outpatient and Inpatient)), GS-9 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level of a MRT (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient); OR, An associate's degree or higher, and three years of experience in clinical documentation improvement (candidates must also have successfully completed coursework in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records); OR, Mastery level certification through AHIMA or AAPC and two years of experience in clinical documentation improvement; OR, Clinical experience such as RN, M.D., or DO, and one year of experience in clinical documentation improvement. Certification. Employees at this level must have either a mastery level certification or a clinical documentation improvement certification as per the below:
Master Level Certification:
This is considered a higher-level health information management or coding certification and is limited to those obtained through AHIMA or AAPC. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Stand-alone specialty certifications do not meet the definition of mastery level certification & are not acceptable for qualifications. Certification titles may change & certifications that meet the definition of mastery level certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies. However, current mastery level certifications include:
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Informatic Administrator (RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Cordera (COC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC). Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification:
This is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA or the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS). To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must certify mastery in clinical documentation. Certification titles may change, & certifications that meet the definition of clinical documentation improvement certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies. However, current Clinical Documentation Improvement Certifications include:
Clinical Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP) & Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
i. Knowledge of coding and documentation concepts, guidelines, and clinical terminology. ii. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology to interpret and analyze all information in a patient's health record, including laboratory and other test results to identify opportunities for more precise and/or complete documentation in the health record. iii. Ability to collect and analyze data and present results in various formats, which may include presenting reports to various organizational levels. iv. Ability to establish and maintain strong verbal and written communication with providers. v. Knowledge of regulations that define healthcare documentation requirements, including The Joint Commission, CMS, and VA guidelines. vi. Extensive knowledge of coding rules and regulations, to include current clinical classification systems such as ICDCM and PCS, CPT, and HCPCS. They must also possess knowledge of complication or comorbidity/major complication or comorbidity (CC/MCC), MS-DRG structure, and POA indicators. vii. Knowledge of severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care for inpatients, and CPT Evaluation and Management (E/M) criteria to ensure the correct selection of E/M codes that match patient type, setting of service, and level of E/M service provided for outpatients. viii. Knowledge of training methods and teaching skills sufficient to conduct continuing education for staff development. The training sessions may be technical in nature or may focus on teaching techniques for the improvement of clinical documentation issues. 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). References:
VA Handbook 5005/122 Part II; Appendix G57 Medical Records Technician (Coder) Qualification Standard Physical Requirements:
Traveling throughout the medical center and to CBOC locations is required, as is performing activities involving driving, sitting, walking, standing, bending, reaching and carrying such items as books, papers, and files.
- Department:
0675 Medical Records Technician - Salary Range:
$52,905 to $68,777 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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