As part of the Health Information Management Section (HIMS), the Lead Medical Records Technician (MRT) -Release of Information (ROI) provides expertise, guidance and direction, including technical assistance in the planning, development and maintenance of an effective, comprehensive, and integrated ROI Program at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System (VAPAHCS).


Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.

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).
Experience and Education:

• Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and 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 (ROI) work. OR,
• 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, 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 experience and educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:
  • (a) 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 courses.
  • (b) 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 Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. The training program may be substituted on a month for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology, and health record techniques and procedures.
  • English Language Proficiency. Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

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).

Creditable Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is paid or non-paid employment directly related to the position to be filled, or in a related field such as medical support assistants, ward clerks, health record file room/scanning technicians, incomplete health record analysis, medical coding, or other positions that included knowledge of the content and use of health records. To be creditable, the candidate's experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current release of information practice.

Quality of Experience. To be creditable, experience must be documented on the application or resume, and verified through an employment reference or other independent means.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Lead Medical Records Tech (ROI) GS-7:

Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing duties, including but not limited to: Apply, interpret, and analyze laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information. Responsible for educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information. Receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations. Use various computer applications to track and release all authorized release of information requests. Process and release health information to authorized first- and third party requestors. Initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records. Communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the release of information process. Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information.

AND;

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities of release of information to effectively complete job assignments (i.e., distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work, and ensuring required timelines are met.)
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, to meet program objectives.
• Ability to prepare reports in various formats and present data to various organizational levels.
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.Education: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: 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: Type: OTHER