Total 78 job vacancies by Veterans Health Administration

NOTE: This is a remote position. The salary range listed on this announcement reflects the minimum and maximum salary range for all locations. Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to reflect the salary for your specific location.

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 3 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Works with researchers to determine their needs
• Performs analyses of research studies and clinical trial protocols to determine data requirements
• Designs application and data storage systems
• Evaluates clinical trial data reporting requirements and implements required changed, ensuring data integrity and information security assurance
• Conducts hardware and software analysis
• Analyzes clinical trials electronic data capture requirements for screening, randomization, kit assignment, serious adverse events, data collection, and reporting
• Performs mapping analyses needed to determine data assurance and security requirements for data migration
• Designs and develops databases for studies
• Serves as the primary organizational representative for several concurrent projects
• Provides consultation and advice regarding core infrastructure to support, maintain, and improve informatics developments
• Proposes and develops strategic biomedical informatics programs to support better utilization and analysis of VA health, research, and genomic data
• Performs other related duties as assigned

CDISs must be able to perform all duties of an MRT (Coder-Inpatient). The CDI Specialist serves as a consultant to various medical staff and ad hoc committees related to medical documentation activities, including compliance. They serve on various workgroups and teams as assigned. They are also responsible for reports preparation and presentation of data to the committee(s). Serves as a consultant in the development and updating of Medical Center policy memoranda pertaining to document function and medical record activities. Ensures that medical record documentation activities are consistent with the requirements established by VA manuals and directives and the Joint Commission standards and Scoring Guidelines.

They are responsible for facilitating improved overall quality, education, completeness, and accuracy of health record documentation through extensive interaction with clinical, coding, and other associated staff to ensure clinical documentation supports services rendered to patients, appropriate workload is captured, and resources are properly allocated. The CDI Specialist analyzes, interprets, and trends findings of quality improvement monitors and prepares monthly/quarterly reports for presentation to the medical staff and/or management. Based on these findings, makes recommendations, and persuades physicians/service chiefs to adopt proposals that result in necessary policy or procedural changes. The CDI Specialist must possess thorough knowledge of medical, terminology, anatomy and physiology and practical knowledge of medical treatment modalities, procedures, surgeries, and disease processes. They review documentation and facilitate modifications to the health record to ensure accurate severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care, and utilization of resources. They identify opportunities for documentation improvement by ensuring that diagnoses and procedures are documented to the highest level of specificity, accurately address all acute and chronic conditions, and reflect the true health status of patients. Serves as Subject Matter Expert for HIMS regarding medical record documentation. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, service chiefs, and other medical center staff at all organizational levels. Must possess effective interpersonal skills.

Responsible for determining the need for and extent of training medical staff personnel regarding medical record document and requirements. May be required to develop training materials and continuing education programs. Training programs may include legal and ethical documentation practices, Evaluation and Management Code assignment, medical record documentation requirements, etc. In cases where additional medical record documentation is necessary, incumbent advises and/or discusses the issue with the responsible physician(s) via query. Queries sent to clinical staff to clarify ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation. They review appropriateness of and responses to queries through review of query reports. Evaluates, monitors, and reports on data from a variety of sources in relation to inpatient and outpatient reimbursement. These sources include Data Validation outputs and data provided from the local VISTA and VA Central Office. Incumbent will conduct monitors, summarize data, and prepare reports in a variety of areas, including a variety of special projects for the HIMS section.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief, HIMS or designee.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-60217-0 Medical Records Technician Clinical Document Improvement Specialist (Inpatient) GS-0675-09
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

CDISs must be able to perform all duties of an MRT (Coder-outpatient). The CDI Specialist serves as a consultant to various medical staff and ad hoc committees related to medical documentation activities, including compliance. They serve on various workgroups and teams as assigned. They are also responsible for reports preparation and presentation of data to the committee(s). Serves as a consultant in the development and updating of Medical Center policy memoranda pertaining to document function and medical record activities. Ensures that medical record documentation activities are consistent with the requirements established by VA manuals and directives and the Joint Commission standards and Scoring Guidelines.

They are responsible for facilitating improved overall quality, education, completeness, and accuracy of health record documentation through extensive interaction with clinical, coding, and other associated staff to ensure clinical documentation supports services rendered to patients, appropriate workload is captured, and resources are properly allocated. The CDI Specialist analyzes, interprets, and trends findings of quality improvement monitors and prepares monthly/quarterly reports for presentation to the medical staff and/or management. Based on these findings, makes recommendations, and persuades physicians/service chiefs to adopt proposals that result in necessary policy or procedural changes. The CDI Specialist must possess thorough knowledge of medical, terminology, anatomy and physiology and practical knowledge of medical treatment modalities, procedures, surgeries, and disease processes. They review documentation and facilitate modifications to the health record to ensure accurate severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care, and utilization of resources. They identify opportunities for documentation improvement by ensuring that diagnoses and procedures are documented to the highest level of specificity, accurately address all acute and chronic conditions, and reflect the true health status of patients. Serves as Subject Matter Expert for HIMS regarding medical record documentation. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, service chiefs, and other medical center staff at all organizational levels. Must possess effective interpersonal skills.

Responsible for determining the need for and extent of training medical staff personnel regarding medical record document and requirements. May be required to develop training materials and continuing education programs. Training programs may include legal and ethical documentation practices, Evaluation and Management Code assignment, medical record documentation requirements, etc. In cases where additional medical record documentation is necessary, incumbent advises and/or discusses the issue with the responsible physician(s) via query. Queries sent to clinical staff to clarify ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation. They review appropriateness of and responses to queries through review of query reports. Evaluates, monitors, and reports on data from a variety of sources in relation to inpatient and outpatient reimbursement. These sources include Data Validation outputs and data provided from the local VISTA and VA Central Office. Incumbent will conduct monitors, summarize data, and prepare reports in a variety of areas, including a variety of special projects for the HIMS section.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief, HIMS or designee.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-60096-A Medical Records Technician Clinical Document Improvement Specialist (outpatient) GS-0675-09
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: HR Specialist Total Rewards

This announcement is for a Temporary promotion or Detail NTE 120 days. Open WMC wide only.

This announcement will close on 11/21/2024, the first 75 applications received will receive first consideration. Applications that are submitted after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date in which the initial cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

The Program Manager is responsible for providing overall leadership and direction for the program as well as overseeing the planning, implementation, and management of the program within the Veterans Health Administration. The incumbent provides overall management and support of Scholarship and Clinical Education programs including daily communication with various customers and stakeholders at all levels of the organization, charter groups and arrange meetings, collect and analyze data, formulate and implement program development and improvement activities, assist in survey administration and the management of funds.

Major Duties Include:

• Performing application evaluation and explaining eligibility criteria to candidates.
• Identifying current and future program needs and establishing priorities.
• Preparing responses at the request of Congressional staff offices related to program area.
• Collaborating with other agencies for application selection.
• Preparing annual and supplemental requests for funding and decision documents.
• Collecting and analyzing data for purposes of determining funding needs for program support, identifying additional disciplines to include in legislative proposals and determining cost-effectiveness of educational assistance opportunities.
• Serving as a national technical expert on the laws, regulations and policy that govern the operation of Scholarship and Clinical Education programs.
• Creating and justifying the annual budget of programs along with management of received funds.
• Developing budget reports and assisting in budget allocation and execution for the program and monitoring the use and rate of expenditure of budgeted funds.
• Collecting, inputting, managing, and maintaining data, record keeping, and creating and generating budget and financial reports.
• Developing comprehensive plans and processes to attract program candidates based on projected
  occupational needs.
• Developing policy/guidelines, instructional methods, materials, etc. to support program participation to meet Administration recruitment needs.
• Providing subject matter expert analysis and advice on agency-wide student loan financial recruitment &
  retention programs.
• Collaborating with Third Part Vendors for processing of payments.

Major duties of the Supervisory Health System Specialist (Corporate Compliance Officer) include:

• Responsible for the initiation and completion of administrative investigations and fact-findings as approved by the Health Care System Director.
• Directing, developing, implementing, and overseeing a multi-disciplinary, health-care-system-wide Compliance Section within the scope of the VHA mandated Privacy Program, Records Information Management Program, Conflict of Interest, and Compliance & Business Integrity (CBI) Program (which includes auditing, monitoring and creation of corrective action plan activities in the areas of coding, documentation, purchased care, exclusionary lists, conflict of interest, accuracy of patient registration, etc.), Controlled Substance Program, VHA policy related to Administrative Investigative Boards, VHA policy related to Access, and VISN equivalent of each of these programs.
• Establish goals and work plans for the Compliance Section and ensures the implementation of the goals and objectives of the section.
• Determine issues, areas, and/or subject matter that create risk for the organization and makes recommendations to executive leadership as to how to avoid or minimize the identified risks.
• Creates written policies and procedures that promote commitment to corporate compliance and address specific areas of risk associated with the Health Care System business, practices, operations, privacy, Records Information Management, investigations, and audits of scheduling and consult practices.
• Creates and maintains local policies governing each of the disciplines within Compliances.
• Creates a formal, written training and education plan for all disciplines with the Compliance Section.
• Monitor the implementation of process improvement projects that are the result of findings made by the Compliance Section.

As the VISN 22 VA Health Connect Clinical Contact Center (CCC) Chief Nurse you will report directly to the VA Health Connect CCC Director. The Clinical Contact Center Chief Nurse will provide executive leadership and direct supervision to the Nurse Managers over the Clinical Contact Center nursing staff and other employees as assigned. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the processes and daily operations of the Clinical Contact Center, collaborating with the Nurse Managers and administrative and clinical leaders within the VISN (e.g. from Clinical Contact Centers and Tele Emergency Care), at the medical centers where patients are assigned (e.g. from Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, and Specialty Care), and with Program Offices (e.g. Homeless Program, Veterans Crisis Line) to design and implement interdisciplinary programs and processes within the service.

Chief, Clinical Contact Center is responsible for:

• Assessing and recommending the allocation of human and material resources, in determining staffing levels, managing overtime, and plays a significant role in the recruitment and retention of staff.
• Ensure competency assessment meets the learning needs of nursing staff and are completed on each employee annually.
• Reviews Clinical Contact Center Data, quality assurance findings, and business operations data related to nursing and clinical operations for trends and early intervention; formulates follow-up plans with stakeholders within and outside of the VISN.
• Evaluates findings from VISN Clinical Contact Center Quality Assurance Program and collaborates with both administrative and clinical services to monitor quality and safety within the service and during transitions in care to the medical centers.
• Functions as facilitator in implementing action plans and performance and process improvement strategies at services for follow up to include regular progress reports.
• Performance improvement projects may be co-led with leaders from medical centers.
• Promotes evidence-based practice designed to validate and/or improve patient care and health care delivery.
• Acts as a liaison with the nursing leaders in Offices of Nursing Services, Office of Integrated Veterans Care (IVC) and the Office of Nursing Services to address issues related to nursing as needed.

• Chief Nurse experience preferred
• Three plus years of experience in Emergency, Critical Care or Call Center leadership preferred
• Doctorate degree with Evidence Based Practice experience is a plus

The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Salary range listed is the locality pay scale US-wide. Actual salary will be based on location of the selectee and may be higher.
• Veteran's preference does not apply to current Federal employees.

• Works closely with the Principal Proponent and the Planning Committee to develop a successful Study Protocol for clinical trial proposals assigned to the Center.
• Provides guidance and direction in study design, statistical methodology for sample size estimation and data analysis, protocol requirements, data collection and management, inputs to the study budget, and adherence to International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH), Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) guidelines and policies.
• Works with other staff, management, and, if applicable, pharmaceutical sponsors and other government agency sponsors representative on an approved CSP multi-center clinical trial.
• Coordinates and/or oversees development and implementation of (a) protocol revisions, updates and modification, (b) study operations manual, and (c) study monitoring processes including participant enrollment and follow up, study close-out, interim and final reports/ analysis of study data.
• Analyzes collected data in order to elucidate significant factors, relationships, and trends;prepare cross tabulations or frequency listings of selected variables to assess the validity of data.
• Performs other duties assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Must be able to work during these hours.
Virtual: This is a virtual position 100%
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Accountant/PD03199-O
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

This Announcement will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the Accounting Section relative to matters of policy, interpretation of regulations and procedures which are of greater than average difficulty.
• Planning, establishing, and maintaining a commercial-type double entry accounting system covering several appropriations, one revolving fund, general post funds, personal funds of patients, research, grants and construction appropriations, the overall budget is over $520,000,000.
• Serves as technical accounting advisor to the Chief Financial Officer and station management; including advising or proper procedures to be followed when procedures have not been disseminated or must be developed locally to meet station needs, is often called upon to attend meetings related to financial matters and inter-service relations.
• As a principal staff member of Fiscal Service, incumbent is a member of VASNHCS committees and attends both formal and informal management meetings.
• Advises VASNHCS on proper accounting procedures to ensure that the data conforms to regulations.
• Performs financial audits, analysis, and evaluations of the financial operations and related procedures as part of the Fiscal Service Quality Assurance System.
• Verifying, analyzing and/or reconciling a very large number of computer generated reports validating General Ledger control accounts to their related subsidiary records maintained in Fiscal, Supply, Voluntary Services, Medical Administration, Research, Prosthetics and Engineering and Facilities Management Services.
• Reviews present computer system and recommends and implements changes and improvements as needed to interface with other computer systems, to meet other services' and supported facilities' needs arid requirements and to improve the overall functions of the Accounting Section.
• Responsible for the complete management of the section, identifying the needs of the section, including but not limited to manpower, equipment, supplies, and space, as well as identify methods to reduce costs in these areas.
• The incumbent may cover during the absence of the Assistant Fiscal Officer.
• Other duties as assigned.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf

This position is a staff psychologist position, serving as a member of a fully virtual Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. The virtual BHIP team functions as a regular and fully-functioning BHIP team, though team members are virtual.

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:

• Diagnose mental disorders.
• Conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments.
• Treat mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy, utilizing Evidence Based Treatments.
• Perform formal and informal assessments for a wide variety of patient conditions and diagnoses, including mental illness, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning.
• Ensure the assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served.
• Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the outpatient mental health setting.
• Conduct assessments appropriate to individual patients with attention to the implications of test results for a veteran's every-day, real-world function, and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with improved quality of life.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention.
• Work with assigned Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team to support optimum clinical care.
• Consult and coordinate care with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served.
• Provide clinical supervision to health professions trainees and unlicensed psychologists.
• Support activities of the Psychology Training Program and participate in relevant educational seminars.
• Participate in improvement of clinical supervision skills with emphasis on Evidence Based Practice models.
• Provide training and guidance to other mental health staff, as directed, and based on areas of expertise.
• Participate in program development tasks, as assigned.
• Participate in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development.
• Assume responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation.
• Maintain ongoing scholarly and self-education activities.
• Participate in psychology peer review.
• May serve as faculty at local or other system-wide education and training conferences.
• May serve as primary investigator on research projects.
• Work with local APA-accredited psychology programs to facilitate dissertation research in the areas of psychosocial recovery and improved quality of life for individuals who have mental health challenges.
• Serve on committees or work groups, as assigned.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf

This position is a staff psychologist position, serving as a member of a fully virtual Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. The virtual BHIP team functions as a regular and fully-functioning BHIP team, though team members are virtual.

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:

• Diagnose mental disorders.
• Conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments.
• Treat mental disorders through individual, family, and group psychotherapy, utilizing Evidence Based Treatments.
• Perform formal and informal assessments for a wide variety of patient conditions and diagnoses, including mental illness, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning.
• Ensure the assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served.
• Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the outpatient mental health setting.
• Conduct assessments appropriate to individual patients with attention to the implications of test results for a veteran's every-day, real-world function, and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with improved quality of life.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention.
• Work with assigned Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team to support optimum clinical care.
• Consult and coordinate care with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served.
• Provide clinical supervision to health professions trainees and unlicensed psychologists.
• Support activities of the Psychology Training Program and participate in relevant educational seminars.
• Participate in improvement of clinical supervision skills with emphasis on Evidence Based Practice models.
• Provide training and guidance to other mental health staff, as directed, and based on areas of expertise.
• Participate in program development tasks, as assigned.
• Participate in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development.
• Implement program design and assists in clinical management of program staff, as assigned.
• Assume responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation.
• Maintain ongoing scholarly and self-education activities.
• Participate in psychology peer review.
• May serve as faculty at local or other system-wide education and training conferences.
• May serve as primary investigator on research projects.
• Serve on committees or work groups, as assigned.

Duties included, but are not limited to:

According to the requirements of the Commission on Cancer, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Cancer Committee, the National VA Oncology Program and the NCI SEER Programs, incumbent identifies required reportable diseases in this facility's patients through the use of the VISTA Oncology Program.

Thoroughly searches the medical record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment.

Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. The incumbent utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. In addition, uses specific codes required in a cancer registry, stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, AJCC Staging Manual, and the FORDS manual.

Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include:

• 1) Codes stages of disease using American Joint Commission on Cancer staging requirements.
• 2) Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment, (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy).
• 3) Identifies coding discrepancies.
• 4) Facilitates resolution of coding discrepancies by discussion with providers.
• 5) Codes complicated medical records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify.
• 6) Reviews records to obtain data.
• 7) Enters data obtained from the record into the registry software.
• 8) Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer.

Duties included, but are not limited to:

According to the requirements of the Commission on Cancer, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Cancer Committee, the National VA Oncology Program and the NCI SEER Programs, incumbent identifies required reportable diseases in this facility's patients through the use of the VISTA Oncology Program.

Thoroughly searches the medical record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment.

Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. The incumbent utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. In addition, uses specific codes required in a cancer registry, stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, AJCC Staging Manual, and the FORDS manual.

Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include:

• 1) Codes stages of disease using American Joint Commission on Cancer staging requirements.
• 2) Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment, (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy).
• 3) Identifies coding discrepancies.
• 4) Facilitates resolution of coding discrepancies by discussion with providers.
• 5) Codes complicated medical records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify.
• 6) Reviews records to obtain data.
• 7) Enters data obtained from the record into the registry software.
• 8) Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer.

The duties of the position may include but, are not limited to:

• Develops procedures, policies, and supporting artifacts to ensure procurement activities are consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), VA Acquisitions Regulations (VAAR) and other federal procurement laws and regulations;
• Conducts analyses and recommends courses of actions to ensure that vision clinical and administrative service requirements have addressed considerations such as construction, budgeting, supporting manpower and other factors;
• Provides training to the facility Contracting Officers on procurement policies and new processes and procedures related to procurement;
• Establishes, expedites and reviews consolidation of all procurement packages including unique, emergent and complex requirements to meet timely and technical needs of assigned acquisitions;
• Develops and conducts presentations/recommendations to leadership and other stakeholders to explain regulations and procedures;
• Negotiates performance requirements among multiple sites and service lines in order to obtain agreement, standardize enterprise equipment, supply and/or service requirements in support of strategic acquisition plans;
• Establishes and maintains controls to ensure that contracts are executed in accordance with terms;
• Advises on all phases of negotiation with the contract specialist/contracting officer for contract modifications, change orders, supplemental agreements and delivery order processes including requirements, definition, justification and approval for service contract extension, method of contracting, evaluation of proposals and all phases of contract administration; and
• Monitors quality assurance surveillance plans to ensure that contracted services meet the expectations and needs of the facility.

The incumbent is responsible for

• Supervising all employees in the Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA).
• Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the program.
• Providing financial analysis and reporting support to all facilities in the Network.
• Exercise supervisory authority and responsibilities involving work assignments.
• Utilizes subordinates to lead, coordinate or oversee work.
• Exercises significant responsibilities in dealing with officials of other units or organizations and in advising management officials of higher rank
• Assures reasonable equity (among units, groups, teams, projects, etc.) of performance standards and rating techniques developed by subordinates.
• Directs a major program with significant resources.
• Evaluates subordinate staff.
• Resolves group grievances or serious employee complaints.
• Audits all facility databases to ensure that they reflect medical center organizational structures within the Network and describe the services provided to patients. Supports the integration of MCA into the budget process, working with budget analysts, department managers, the CFO, top management, and the Network.
• Develops a training program for service line managers covering the interpretation and potential applications of variance information and other MCA reports.
• Serves as a consultant and resource to VISN 19 Medical Centers, VISN, and Program Office personnel.

Basic Functions:

• Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (outpatient and/or inpatient professional services) covering the full range of health care services provided by the VAMC. Applies advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Selects /assigns codes from the current versions of the International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System.
• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or evaluation and management code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding. Also applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation program
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information
• Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.
• Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided; provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Insures provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded. Directly consults with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data. Reports incorrect documentation or codes
• Expertly searches the patient health record to find documentation justifying code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient record.
• Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to correctly code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin. Corrects any identified data errors or inconsistencies to ensure acceptance in the national VA database within established timelines. Independently researches references to resolve any questionable code errors
• Uses a variety of computer applications in day to day activities and duties, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Access; competent in use of the health record applications (VistA and CPRS) as well as the encoder product suite.
• Orients and instructs new personnel and/or students from affiliated health information or medical record technology programs
• Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
• Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for outpatient encounters identified by the VERA committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program.
• Codes inpatient professional fee services for identified inpatient admissions. Code selection is based upon strict compliance with regulatory fraud and abuse guidelines and VA specific guidance for optimum allowable reimbursement.
• Establishes the primary and secondary diagnosis and procedure codes for outpatient encounters following applicable regulations, instructions, and requirements for allowable reimbursement; links the appropriate diagnosis to the procedure and/or determines level of E/M service provided. Understands the nuances of the CPT coding system for Third Party Insurance cost recovery and accurately interprets instructional notations; bundles encounters when appropriate; identifies non-billable encounters.
• Codes all Operating Room procedures reported in the Surgical Package of the VistA hospital system; applies ICD and CPT coding guidelines and selects proper codes using the current code set and the encoder product suite; ensures all procedures file to the appropriate Patient Care Encounter; adds Anesthesia and Pathology codes to the PCE encounter for all billable surgical cases.
• Reviews and codes assigned fee service Care in the Community outpatient encounters using the paper or electronic documentation obtained from non-VA facilities such as Community Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, military facilities, etc.
• Codes diagnoses from paper forms for VA registries such as Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Persian Gulf, Prisoner of War, etc.