Advanced Medical Support Assistant (Diagnostic Imaging)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Chesapeake, VA seeks a Medical Support Assistant in the Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service to support scheduling, patient intake, and care coordination within an interdisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes accuracy in demographics, insurance data, and communications with clinicians and external providers. You will work standard hours in a busy clinic, ensuring timely imaging procedures and proper documentation for patient care coordination and community

Qualifications

• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.
• Scheduling and managing patient appointments and referrals.
• Verifying demographics and insurance information at check-in.
• Collaborating with clinicians and administrative staff to ensure patient care.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient procedures by verifying pre-procedure workups are complete.
• Review patient information (labs, screening) to ensure readiness for imaging.
• Ensure correct exam is scheduled as ordered by the physician.
• Communicate with multiple departments to manage patient flow and reporting.
• Assist in revenue collection by identifying third-party payer information.
• Support community care scheduling and data gathering for follow-up.

Skills

Scheduling patient appointments

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Demographic and insurance data entry

Customer service

Medical terminology knowledge

Education

One year above high school

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service. The MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service Line located at the North Battlefield CBOC.

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service. The MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service Line located at the North Battlefield CBOC.

Qualifications

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: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.j
• Certification: None required
• Experience
• 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
• One year above high school
• 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)
• Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• In addition to the basic requirements - you must meet the following grade requirements
• To qualify at this level - candidates must have: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• Examples of credible experience at this level include - but are not limited to: scheduling - canceling - re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults
• 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
• coordinates administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other clinical/medical facilities or private hospitals and determines appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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: Work is primarily sedentary
• however - the incumbent will have episodes of standing - twisting - bending - sitting and carrying of supplies (up to 40 pounds) in support of the clinical areas assigned.

Duties

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service including team huddles that are used to manage - plan - and set priorities and deadlines for meeting timeliness of scheduling imaging studies
• Coordinates patient procedures by verifying pre-procedure workup is complete and meets procedure requirements prior to procedure
• This may include evaluating patient information - such as lab results and pre-procedure clinical screening for MRI and/or positron emission imaging (PET) exams to assure readiness for imaging exam/procedure and resolving issues - if needed
• Interprets information provided to ensure that the correct exam as ordered by the physician is the one scheduled to be done
• Participating and providing input on problem solving with operational issues in team meetings - performing administrative follow up actions on orders and consults - educating providers about shared patients who are receiving care at multiple VAs or those who receive care in the community
• Works collaboratively with the Office of Community Care for scheduling of radiologic/nuclear medicine procedures performed in the community
• Gather data on patients referred to the community and developing a report that is shared with the Office of Community Care to determine if the patients care has been completed
• Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients using two forms of identification - name and Social Security Number or DOB
• Explains the VA's mandate to collect insurance information to Veterans - their families - and other eligible patients
• Effectively communicate with the Office of Community Care to ensure reports and images are received - processing orders and consults in accordance to policy and following up on outstanding consults
• Contributes to the revenue collection process by identifying patients with third-party insurance
• Promotes Veteran registration for and utilization of My HealtheVet (MHV)
• Scheduler notifies section personnel immediately on the arrival of patients awaiting exams and any STAT request that is received
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm (Monday-Friday) Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized