ADVANCED MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary This is the Advanced level MSA position. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position is a foundational role within the VHA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Model transformation initiative. Patient care is delivered in a team-based model known as the teamlet. Members of the teamlet include the MSA, a Registered Nurse Care Manager, a Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse, and a Primary Care Provider. Responsibilities VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (Patient Aligned Care Team or other specialty care setting where the patient aligned care team model is used such as oncology, HIV, SCI, Military Sexual Trauma, etc. The Advanced MSA coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary), ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic and make any necessary adjustments. They develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and other agencies assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge. Communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and teams, notify patients of normal lab results develop and manage a tracking system for follow-up care such as consults, tests. Participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting 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 records; monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visits/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab works). Managing electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and resolves issues. Participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performing administrative follow-up actions. Participating in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with medical team to assure continuity of care. Evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested, educating providers about shared patients, those who received their care at Multiple VAs or those who have care in the community and brining to the attention of the provider. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: This is not available for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Qualifications Basic Requirements: CITIZENSHIP: Must be a United States Citizen. ENGLISH: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Must possess six (6) months experience of clerical, office, customer service or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the Medical Support Assistant. OR Must have successfully completed one (1) year above high school. This education must have been obtained in an accredited technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for entry level. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE GRADE REQUIREMENTS AT THE GS-6 LEVEL TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION. Grade Determinations: GS-6 level Must possess one (1) year of experience that is directly related to the duties of a MSA To be creditable, this experience must be equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-5, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities. Experience at this level includes assignments such as advising clinical staff on current administrative processes; answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit; scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults in a computerized scheduling system to include interpreting and verifying provider orders; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic, monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments; and coordinating administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other facilities. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the following KSAs: AND You also must demonstrate the following KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines 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. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, as well as resolving patient concerns. 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 the patient flow, and patient support care 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. REFERENCE: VA Handbook 5005/117, Part II, Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. Some positions may require sitting for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while talking on a telephone headset. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: 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/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.