Advanced Medical Support Assistant

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) Experience. None Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Licensure/Certification/Registration.

None English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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). Grade Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements.

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06: Specialized Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

Experience at the GS-5 includes but is not limited to: scheduling, cancelling, re-scheduling patients appointments and/or monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility, ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit, verifying and updating demographics and insurance information, processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals, performing basic eligibility, co-pays and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage, etc.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including, but not limited to, scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care.

Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow, and patient support care administrative functions to include, but not limited to appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g., medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.

Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, as well as resolving patient concerns. 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-06.

Duties include but are not limited to: The Advanced MSA coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary), ensure that the clinic tup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and make any necessary adjustments.

Develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team. Notify patients of normal lab results. Develop, and manage a tracking system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.

Participate in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care. Set priorities and deadlines. Adjust the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs. Work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic medical record; monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure(e.g., X-ray, lab work). Manage electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and issues.

Perform administrative follow up actions. Participate in and independently follow up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to ensure continuity of care. Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested. Educate providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community).

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0700-1700 (Tour Of Duty may vary in 8 hour increments) Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.