Advanced Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Brownsburg (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Brownsburg, IN seeks an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to support HAS at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Clinic. The AMSA will assist physicians, PAs, nurses, and other staff by managing appointments, coordinating patient flow, and maintaining accurate records.

The role requires high school education, English proficiency, and the ability to handle scheduling, referrals, and patient communications with discretion and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the health care process and care delivery models.
• Ability to coordinate care across disciplines and manage patient flow.
• Strong knowledge of medical terminology and clinic workflows.
• Experience communicating with clinicians and patients to resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Screen and route patient requests via phone, email, and in person.
• Schedule consultations, labs, and specialty clinics as ordered by providers.
• Enter and adjust appointments to ensure timely access to care.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with privacy rules.

Skills

Health care coordination

Communication with clinicians

Electronic health records

Prioritization and organization

Privacy and HIPAA

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Medical scheduling software

Job description

Summary

The position serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) to the Health Administration Service (HAS) at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC VA Clinic in Brownsburg - IN. The AMSA is responsible for performing a variety of technical support duties that facilitate the work of physicians - physician assistants - nurses - nursing assistants - and other members of the medical facility who provide direct patient care. AMSAs are considered chief sources of patient care and patient flow information.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f) Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education 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 Determinations: GS-06 Experience: 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 - in their resume - 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits comfortably to do the work
• However - there may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items such as papers - books - small parts - or driving an automobile - etc
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Demonstrates Courtesy and Professionalism: As frontline contact with patients and staff - the A/MSA sets the tone for perception concerning quality of healthcare services at the VA
• A high degree of tact and diplomacy is required when dealing with veterans who have multiple health problems and who may be frustrated with the administrative process associated with diagnosis and treatment
• A caring - compassionate and sensitive manner is essential when explaining procedures to veterans and their family members both in person and on the phone
• The A/MSA screens/receives phone calls in a courteous and timely manner - determines the nature of request and provides the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes
• Consult and Appointment Management: The MSA is responsible for following through on providers' orders including scheduling appropriate consultation requests - labs - x-rays and various other specialty clinics available at the CBOC
• Incumbent will schedule all appointments with the patient's input - either in person or by phone
• This may require a high level of coordination to avoid patients having to make multiple trips to the clinic whenever possible
• Notifies supervisor when clinic access is less than desirable or if an individual patient cannot be scheduled within mandated clinic timeframes
• Daily review of active/pending consults
• a) Patient appointments will be scheduled in accordance with all applicable Scheduling Directives
• b) Appointments are entered upon receipt and entered correctly
• c) Correct scheduling errors within one day of receipt
• d) Return appointments will be scheduled before the patient leaves the check-out area and given a card or letter which details the date and time of their next appointment - if desired
• e) Cancel clinic availability in scheduling grids for assigned Teamlets when notified of clinician's absence
• The MSA will assist the veteran in creating a beneficiary travel request via paper form or use of the veteran kiosk
• Meets - Communicates - and Interacts
• Demonstrates ability to meet - communicate - and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and with other health care team members in order to complete job assignments
• Operates Computerized Programs
• Demonstrates ability to use various types of office automation equipment and software - to include ability to set up - organize - and maintain record systems
• Utilizes such programs and databases to make appointments in a clinical setting
• Maintains patient confidentiality with information - per HIPM requirements
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm
• Flexibility in the tour available - with potential start times ranging from approximately 7:30 a.m
• to 8:30 a.m. - depending on the needs of the service and the selected candidate
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91463A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized