Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The Business Office of the VA New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange Campus is hiring one Medical Support Assistant (MSA) for Community Care. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the care of a beneficiary panel in conjunction with multiple members (providers, registered nurses, mental health, clinical pharmacists and licensed practical nurse, community care providers and PPMS network).

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Duties

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Major Duties:

• Assures all practice areas are adequately covered, the assigned workload is accomplished within the time frame allotted by setting priorities and meeting deadlines, adjusting the flow, and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs and ensures that each patient is courteously served.
• Participates in and independently follows up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care, evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient is vested, educating providers about shared patients, and bringing it to the attention of the provider.
• Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care of a group of patients.
• Works collaboratively with community care clinical team to ensure the completion of all steps necessary for timely access to care in community for approval care.
• Responsible for coordinating care and communicating with the Third-Party Administrator (TPA-Optum) during the entire process from beginning to end.
• Responsible for the following: monitoring, trending, and analyzing data, interpreting VA handbooks and directives regarding access/performance improvement/ patient flow issues; collaborates with the facility Access Coordinator; monitors progress of reviews and follow up on action items to ensure completion in a timely manner. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs.
• Responsible for utilizing a comprehensive, organized program to review and identify opportunities for improvement to achieve excellence in the quality and safety of the care, treatment and services provided to patients.
• Assists the Service Leadership and ensures proper processes are in place, including but not limited to follow-up on actions when conducted and report out comes that support current systems redesign processes.
• Conducts reviews to evaluate compliance with program regulations, policies, and procedures and assists with the development of facility policies and procedures, as appropriate. Assists in developing approaches for standardizing system related procedures to minimize variation.
• Conducts analysis including monitoring, tracking, and trending; along with other statically valid techniques to assist in focusing on the Veterans Choice Act access efforts.
• Participates in the development of innovative approaches to the establishment, enhancement, modification, and/or improvements in a variety of facility programs related to the Mission Act.
• Conducts studies of the administrative workflow for the practice group to measure and measure the efficiency of operations.
• Recognizes need for emergency measures and institute emergency measures when indicated.
• Monitor's work assignments resolve daily workplace issues and maintain efficient workflow. Assignments include follow-up with TPA to ensure accurate and timely scheduling of appointments.
• Scans and index documents into the electronic medical record.
• Provides assistance to clinic staff in such projects as updating outpatient clerk's procedural manual or other duties assigned. In the absence of other administrative practice members, automatically assumes the duties of the positions.
• Assures the Community Care provider requests are carried out such as laboratory work, prescriptions given to patients, medical reports for previous imaging/films needed to evaluate Veteran upon appointment. Results are to be the determining factor in veteran's next follow up appointment; ensures all lab work, X-rays etc., are in CPRS and scanned upon veteran's date of care and registered into the computer before next follow up appointment.
• Participates in team meetings and provides in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings.
• Investigates and assists in correcting problems or situations which require special action such following up on additional information/ medical documentation needed for provider or Third-Party Administrator.
• Ensures that mandatory Directives and Policies are followed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Telework : Ad-Hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 24924-F

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• 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).

Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (2) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements

Grade Determinations :

Medical Support Assistant, GS-03.

Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Medical Support Assistant, GS-04.

Experience or Education.

(a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

OR

(b) Education. One year of education above high school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.

(b) Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

Medical Support Assistant, GS-05.

Experience or Education.

(a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade;

OR

(b) Education. Two years of education above high school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.

(b) Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

(c) 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.

(d) Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.

(e) Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.

(f) Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Physical Demands: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.