Advanced Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Florence (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to collaborate with interdisciplinary care teams in a specialty clinic or with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

The role requires coordination of clinic utilization, documentation in VISTA, and ensuring timely patient readiness and transfers as needed. The incumbent will communicate with clinicians, patients, and agencies, set priorities, and manage appointment workflows while maintaining compliance with VA

Qualifications

• Citizenship: U.S. citizen
• Education: High school diploma or GED or equivalent
• English language proficiency: proficient in spoken and written English

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care with the patient care team and review clinic utilization
• Maintain effective communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies
• Set priorities and deadlines to manage pre-appointment requirements and patient readiness
• Monitor patient information and clinic schedules to determine patient status and care coordination
• Educate providers about shared patients and coordinate transfers when needed
• Document transfer activity in VISTA and ensure encounters are reviewed daily for completion

Skills

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Summary

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (MSA) works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model in a Specialty Clinic or with Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• Experience: None
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grandfathering: 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement of the Advanced Medical Support Assistant at the GS-6 level: Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5)
• 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
• 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-6. Physical Requirements: The work of this position is primarily sedentary in an office setting - primarily while seated working closely with others or alone
• There may be some walking - standing - bending - kneeling - lifting no more than 35 pounds - reaching above shoulder - driving an automobile - etc
• The work environment typically involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of a medical office and/or meeting or training room.

Duties

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g. - Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary)
• Develop and maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary team - VA medical centers - and other agencies
• Responsible for setting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure
• Evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested
• educating providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community) and bringing to the attention of the provider
• Help coordinate the transfer of patients as needed
• The incumbent assures that all transfer activity is accurately and completely documented in VISTA
• Assures that all outpatient clinic encounters are reviewed daily for completion and works directly with clinical staff - as needed - to prevent open encounters for more than 24 hours
• Review all patient movements daily to assure that movements are documented correctly
• Responsible for accurate appointment management and the coordination of all administrative information between the professional staff and the patient
• Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability/utilization - to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of clinics supported
• All other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (Some evenings and weekends may be required based on the needs of the service) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD61447F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized