Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Saginaw (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A/MSAs in Social Work support physicians, nurses, and other care providers in the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center. They handle scheduling, patient flow, and administrative tasks essential to patient care within an interdisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes coordination of care across clinics, effective communication with care teams, and maintaining smooth patient access. It requires proficiency in English and a high school diploma, with potential for advancement based on experience and VA

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship
• High school diploma or GED or equivalent
• English language proficiency
• One year of creditable experience or the equivalent
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of clinicians and staff

Responsibilities

• Provides administrative patient support in an interdisciplinary care delivery model
• Reviews clinic appointment availability and adjusts schedules as needed
• Maintains communication with patient care teams and external agencies
• Participates in team meetings to manage and plan patient care
• Sets priorities and deadlines to meet team and patient needs
• Monitors pre-appointment information to ensure readiness
• Schedules appointments and coordinates referrals, labs, imaging, and specialty clinics
• Performs other duties as assigned

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Social Work service at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (A/MSA) in Social Work 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. A/MSAs are considered chief sources of patient care and patient flow information.

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
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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)
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• GS-06 - Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) 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 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
• Preferred Experience: 1 year experience of clerical - office - customer service or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the Medical Support Assistant
• 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 is mostly sedentary
• It typically requires sitting with sustained periods of concentration
• There will be some walking - standing - bending - and carrying of relatively light objects
• The position may also require stooping - reaching - lifting - pulling - and other moderate exertion or strain
• Incumbent may occasionally have to walk some distance to a meeting.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model
• Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines
• 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
• Develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams - VA medical centers - and other agencies
• Participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage - plan - problem solve - and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team
• setting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs
• Monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure
• Responsible for following through on providers' orders including scheduling appropriate consultation requests - labs - x-rays and various other specialty clinics
• Schedule all appointments with the patient's input - either in person or by phone
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD92045A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized