Medical Records Technician (Health Information Technician)

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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 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.

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 HIT must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

Experience and Education

Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology anatomy physiology and a 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 HIT work.
OR
Education: An associates 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 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 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.
• 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 U.S. 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.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT HIT on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/ registration 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 to it the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/ registration may be reassigned promoted or demoted within the occupation but will not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees 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. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations:
Medical Records Technician (HIT) GS-675-4 (Entry Level). None beyond basic requirements. Assignments: MRTs HIT analyze health records.

Medical Records Technician (HIT) GS-675-5 (Developmental Level 1) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level GS-675-04. Assignments: MRTs HIT analyze health records. Create and monitor reports. Monitor all transcription/medical speech recognition. MRTs HIT notify clinical providers regarding incomplete health records.
OR
Education. A bachelors 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 & physiology legal aspects of health care and introduction to health records).
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
• Ability to utilize health information technology and various office software products used in health information management positions (e.g. Microsoft Excel electronic health records and delinquency tracking software).
• Knowledge of health record documentation guidelines and industry standards.
• Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete duties within required timeframes.
• Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy to fully understand the content of a health record.

Medical Records Technician (HIT) GSOne year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-05. Assignments: The MRT HIT analyzes abstracts maintains extracts and compiles information from the health record working under the review of the supervisor. They analyze health records. Coordinate and/or perform health record review activities.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to navigate efficiently through the health record to locate needed information.
• Ability to analyze health record documentation to ensure compliance with guidelines and industry standards.
• Skill in investigating potential health record errors and making corrections when appropriate.
• Skill in interpreting and applying health information guidelines and using judgment to complete assignments.
• Ability to follow up on incomplete health record documentation.

Medical Records Technician (HIT) GS-7 (Full Performance Level) one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-675-06. Assignments: Analyze health records for accuracy completeness timeliness consistency and compliance. Coordinate and/or perform health record review.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to judge whether health records contain sufficient information for regulatory requirements are acceptable as legal documents are adequate for continuity of patient care and support education and research needs.
• Ability to take appropriate actions if health record content is not adequate accurate timely and/or reliable.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing with individuals or groups to facilitate compliance with established policies and regulations.
• Skill in using appropriate software and computer applications to analyze and record documentation trends.
• Ability to apply qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of health records.
• Ability to work independently and utilize problem-solving techniques in the accomplishment of work.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-7.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service.