Advanced Medical Support Assistant

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

02Education

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 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).

Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable.

For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:(1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(2) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06.

03Experience

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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.

04Preferred Experience

Community care, Consults, Customer Service, de-escalating issues. 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.

05Physical Requirements

The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as papers, books, manuals, record boxes and boxes of computer paper. Computers are used and therefore keyboarding is required. The work includes walking from area to area when covering for other employees. Applicant may at times be exposed to stressful situations with Veterans.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within Care in the community. The incumbents assist Veterans by explaining community programs, coordinating their care in the community through various avenues, and providing customer service to be the patient's liaison between the VA Medical Center and the community provider.

Duties include but are not limited to: Works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within Care in the community. Assists Veterans by explaining community programs, coordinating their care in the community through various avenues, and providing customer service to be the patient's liaison between the VA Medical Center and the community provider.

Performs a variety of administrative functions associated with patient care and treatment for Care in the Community services which include inpatient, outpatient, and/or GEC program services. Incumbent must acquire knowledge of internal organizational procedures, knowledge of various facility services, multiple computer software systems, VA acronyms and abbreviations.

• Creates and issues authorizations for approved care, assists with vendor location when needed, and resolves barriers to obtain care in the community to avoid patient care delay.
• Coordinates with the Care in the Community team to review consult utilization by using various reports and communication methods to effectively support the needs of the team.
• Coordinates sending, receiving, and routing medical records from community vendors as needed by verifying services utilized by specialty and date of service.

Responsible for accurate appointment management and the coordination of all administrative information between the community care vendor and the Veteran. This includes scheduling appointments, data entry, and administratively managing consultation requests. Incumbent(s) must screen/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established Care in the Community processes.

Other assignments at this level, include, but are not limited to: participating in team huddles and team meetings. Work Schedule: : Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad hoc at the Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: : Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): : Not Authorized