This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System VA Medical Center. The Medical Records Technician (CDIS- Outpatient/Inpatient) is responsible for abstracting medical record data and assigning codes using current clinical classification systems appropriate for the type of care provided.
Major duties for the position include (but are not limited to): Applies comprehensive 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 and assigns codes from the current version of several coding systems to include current versions of the international Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).
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. Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC.
Timely compliance with coding changes is crucial to the accuracy of the facility database as well as all cost recovery programs. 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.
Ensures 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 in the electronic patient health record. 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.
Uses a variety of window-based 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. Ensures current versions of all software applications are loaded and functional after any updates or changes. Collaboratively works with the professional clinical staff and provides support and education on documentation issues.
Assists in the development of guidelines for data compatibility, consistency, and monitoring for compliance to improve the quality for clinical, financial, and administrative data to ensure that all information is fully documented and supported.
As a technical expert in health record documentation matters, provides advice and guidance in relation to issues such as documentation requirements, liability issues, advance directives, informed consent, patient privacy and confidentiality, state reporting, etc. Analyzes situations or processes and recommends improvements or changes in documentation as deemed necessary.
May assist in writing coding protocol/policies which will reflect the required changes to enhance revenue through improved documentation. 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.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, (Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:00559F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
**continuation of qualifiactions Preferred Qualifications Current CDI certification (CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CDEO, or CDEI); none preferred over another. Experience with both concurrent inpatient review and retrospective outpatient review. Proficiency in ICD coding, plus CPT and HCPCS for outpatient encounters. Skill developing and reconciling provider queries, and knowledge of MS-DRG/APR-DRG, ROM/SOI concepts. Experience delivering provider documentation education.
Strong collaboration and communication skills across clinical and coding teams. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09. 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/. IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.
May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Kathy.Carroll@va.gov · 813-503-7921
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $61722 – $80243/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-10-01.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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