Medical Support Assistant - Diagnostic Imaging

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Temple (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Central Texas Health Care System, Diagnostic Imaging Service, is seeking staff to handle patient intake and indexing, front desk duties, and scheduling for Austin, Temple, and Waco facilities. Duties include processing patient information and coordinating appointments with clinical teams.

Strong attention to detail, experience with electronic health records, and clear communication are essential to ensure smooth clinic operations and patient care

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to interact with diverse patients and health care staff.
• Proficiency with office automation and data processing tools used for patient care.
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in patient care.

Responsibilities

• Receive, intake, and index health and administrative information for patients.
• Perform front desk duties including answering phones and greeting visitors.
• Review patient records for required information and verify demographics/insurance.
• Schedule, review, and coordinate patient appointments according to scheduling guidelines.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Medical terminology

Scheduling

Recordkeeping

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Electronic health records

Office software

Appointment scheduling systems

Job description

This position is located in VA Central Texas Health Care System, Diagnostic Imaging Service and serves Austin, Temple, and Waco, TX. The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information. 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.

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).

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. No experience required.
• Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration. None
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations

GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-3). Experience includes, but is not limited to: applying general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients; utilize a variety of patient data systems in scheduling patients for treatment and annotates patient records; perform front desk duties, receives telephone call, and visitors to the MSA unit; make and cancel appointments, review patient records for necessary information, and review patient demographics and insurance verification; consult with clinic staff when processing physician scheduling and administrative orders.

OR -

Education: One year of education above high school. (Transcript Required)

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients.
• Ability to use, and navigate between, various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e. computer systems, web based scheduling programs; insurance collection system; scanning software, multiple line phone systems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care.
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
• Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.

GS-5

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-4). Experience includes, but is not limited to: scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatment; interviewing patients for appointments; referring patients to other medical specialty clinics; providing information to patients necessary to resolve complaints; interacting with both internal and external customers; reviewing and documenting medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records, as well as administrative records; verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system; obtaining medical information from patients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services; and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

OR -

Education: Two years of education above high school. (Transcript Required)

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.
• Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

Preferred Experience:

• Completion of CTVHCS two weeks scheduler training preferred
• Experience scheduling exams
• Knowledge of Imaging Service preferred
• Experience managing a reception desk and phone calls

Reference:

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

Physical Requirements:

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.