Medical Support Assistant ( Advanced)

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Danbury (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Connecticut Healthcare System seeks an Advance Medical Support Assistant to support the Health Administration Section. The role involves scheduling across interdisciplinary care, managing patient flow, and coordinating with clinicians and patients.

Strong English communication and knowledge of medical terminology are essential. Positions are located at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System campuses in Willimantic, Danbury, Waterbury, New London, Winstead, and surrounding CT sites, with a focus

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in clinic/hospital scheduling advantageous.
• Strong customer service and communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Maintain scheduling and patient flow across clinics.
• Coordinate care with clinicians, patients, families, and staff.
• Prepare reports and communicate with internal/external customers.

Skills

Advanced healthcare processes

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Prioritization & time management

Medical terminology

Effective communication

Patient flow coordination

Education

High school diploma / GED / proficiency certificate

Job description

The Advance Medical Support Assistant is part of the Health Administration Section (HAS) of the Business Office Service Line. These 6 positions are located at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, CBOC Campuses, (2) positions in Willimantic CT, (1) position in Winstead CT, (1) position in Danbury CT, (1) in Waterbury CT and (1) in New London CT. VA Connecticut Healthcare System is an integrated Healthcare System which serves a Veteran population, in Connecticut and Southern New England.

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: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Experience: None.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration: None
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 Determination

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) GS-06:

Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in Federal service (GS-05). Experience includes: Clinic experience in a hospital or doctor's office setting to include scheduling a high volume of appointments annually. High level customer service skills as evidenced by daily interaction and communication with clinicians, patients, families and coworkers. Evidence of work in a clinic setting with multiple inputs (in person, telephone, instant message communications) that need timely and professional resolution. Evidence of specific computer scheduling programs or software utilized in a clinic or hospital. In addition to 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,

AND,

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
7. 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.

Preferred Experience

Excellent Customer Service, Clerical or Administrative experience and Medical Office experience.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as papers, books, manuals, record boxes and boxes of computer paper. Computers are used and therefore keyboarding is required. The work includes walking from area to area when covering other employees. Applicant may at times be exposed to stressful situations with Veterans. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.