Program Summary
The TCF Program/Health Information Management/Technician (HIM/HIT) internship at VA is designed to further develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities of future HIM professional leaders who develop and manage VHA health information management programs in accordance with policies, laws, science, technology, and Federal Government rules and regulations. Our goal is that upon completion of the two-year training program, interns will continue their careers as valuable members of the VHA workforce, contributing to long- and short-range administrative and operational needs.
Under the guidance of an assigned preceptor, each intern has the opportunity to gain substantive work experience, work with leadership at all levels, and advance his/her HIM career. While the work environment is administrative, the setting is clinical. Training is conducted via a variety of methods (i.e., on-the-job training, formal training at conferences, satellites, Web courses, rotations to other facilities or offices within VA, shadowing, etc.). There are many networking/learning opportunities available among interns (in HIM/HIT and/or other programs), health information managers in VA, as well as VA leadership in general.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will have broad knowledge and skills pertaining, but not limited to:
- VA regulations and policies regarding veterans' benefits, as well as security, privacy, and management of veterans' health records, including:
- The Privacy Act
- The Freedom of Information Act
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- Health Information Management, Master Patient Index (MPI), Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), National Patient Care Database and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
- Enrollment, eligibility determination, scheduling, admissions, fee basis (non-VA care), compensation and pension examination processing and management, beneficiary travel, decedent affairs, revenue cycle processes and practices to include first- and third-party billing
- The integration, dependencies, inter-relationships, and complexities of the diverse operational areas of the largest health care delivery system in the United States
In addition, the graduate will have an opportunity to master interpersonal and negotiating skills. He/she will learn and apply accepted administrative management concepts, practices, and innovations to develop long- and short-range policies and processes to support clinical and executive services.
Candidates for the HIM TCF internship program are selected from within VA or from external recruitment at the GS-5 to GS-7 levels. The intern must be credentialed as either an RHIA or RHIT, or attain credentials by the conclusion of the first year of the training period.
Qualifications:
The ability and willingness to relocate is a requirement for selection as a TCF Program intern. If relocation is necessary for permanent placement, VA pays for moving expenses. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Qualifications for the HIT or HIM position can be found at http://www1.va.gov/Ohrm/Directives-Handbooks/Direct_Hand.htm (see VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G35 for HIT (MRT) requirements and VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G33 for HIM (MRA) requirements).
