Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Summary The Syracuse VA Medical Center has 5 vacancies for an Advanced Medical Support Assistant within the Business Office. The MSA performs a wide variety of administrative and clerical duties as a member of the health care team. MSA 's may be assigned to an area and rotated to different areas as needed. The MSA utilizes multiple computer applications - as well as the integrated electronic medical record system. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.) Experience and Education: 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 Certification: None required 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 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 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.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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in paragraph 3 above - the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Only applicants qualifying at the GS-6 level will be considered Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-6 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level Assignment: The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics - specialties - and/or care in the community resources Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model 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 MSAs at this level]develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams - VA medical centers - and other agencies (e.g. - assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge communicate with non-VA medical facilities prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results manage a system for follow-up care such as consults - tests - etc.) Other assignments at this level include - but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate 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 identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers as needed assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions enters appropriate information into the electronic record monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment informs team members about shared patients (i.e. - those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community) For all [assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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 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 References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/117 PART II APPENDIX G45 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06 which is the actual grade at which an applicant may be selected Physical Requirements: The work is generally primarily sedentary Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting There may be some walking - standing twisting - turning - sitting - pushing - bending - frequent keyboard usage - and carrying of light items Some positions may require sitting for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while talking on a telephone headset In addition - there can be increased stress due to the intensity of a patient/customer complaint or concern. Duties VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: Major duties include but are not limited to: Receives and relays incoming and outgoing telephone messages Checks patients in and out from appointments Schedules return to clinic orders Set up clinic paperwork Process faxes - scanning - and printing of documents Directs patients to other areas of the hospital Changes and reschedules clinics Greets patients when presenting Cancel's and reschedules appointments Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm - 8:00am - 4:30pm - and 8:30am - 5:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade) Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66 Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available.Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 21N19-A #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs