Advanced Medical Support Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs West Palm Beach VA Medical Center is seeking an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to provide clerical and administrative support to patients and staff within Care in the Community. The role emphasizes coordinating care and supporting access to a range of clinics and community resources.

Under the supervision of interdisciplinary teams, the AMSA will help manage appointment availability, communicate with care teams, and assist with follow-up care such as

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the health care process, including access to care across clinics.
• Advanced knowledge of policies/procedures affecting patient flow and care.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology used by clinicians.
• Ability to collaborate with clinicians across multiple disciplines.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate clinic appointment availability to support timely patient care.
• Maintain effective communication with patient care teams and VA facilities.
• Assist with follow-up of consults, tests, and transitions between inpatient and outpatient care.

Skills

Health care process knowledge

Interdisciplinary care policies

Medical terminology

Collaboration across disciplines

Prioritization and organization

Effective communication

Education

Two years above high school

Job description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position provides clerical and administrative support to the patients and staff; this position is located in the VA Care in the Community Service in the West Palm Beach, Florida VA Medical Center.

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.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.
• Experience and Education: Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service or other [administrative] work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position;

OR,

• Education: Two years above high school level

OR,

• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable

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

One-year equivalent to at least next lower grade level (GS-5).

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-679-6.

Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-679-5 grade level.

Assignment.

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommend changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. 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 the clinics and makes adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams , VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.)

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below

1. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process, including scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care and/or care in the community models as it relates to access to care.
2. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community that affect patient flow and administrative functions (such as appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability).
3. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology used by clinicians.
4. Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (such as medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goals.
5. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines while complying with processes, policies, and regulations.
6. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, with internal and external customers.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Reference:

VA Handbook 5005/117, Part II, Appendix G45, dated August 1, 2019. Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard GS-0679. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements:

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant work is mostly sedentary; however, some walking; standing, and carrying light items are required. Light filing, sometimes involving working close to the floor, is involved. Wrist and back protection can be provided to minimize the risks associated with prolonged use of automated data processing equipment.