Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support Assistant

The work of a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) impacts the administrative aspects of patient care, including access, scheduling/coordinating appointments using advanced clinic access principles, collecting and updating demographic and insurance information, patient processing, scheduling Recall Reminders, return to clinic orders, and customer service. Incumbent is responsible for bed transfers/assignments, initial response to call lights, and initiating code calls. MSAs are responsible for assuring those various aspects of staffing, training, compliance, reporting and quality assurance are met. These activities directly affect the revenue cycle, patient access to care, hospital performance goals and objectives, as well as VHA public image. MSA's play an integral role in identifying and developing ways to resolve problems with the administrative and clinical staff on access, customer service, patient flow, revenue and data validation issues.

Ability to work independently, setting priorities, and coordinate work.

Knowledge of basic medical terminology.

Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with persons of all educational backgrounds.

Acts as a receptionist for the DC VA Medical Center Community Based Outpatient Care (CBOC) processing incoming and outgoing telephone calls, recording messages from Veterans, family members, in-house clinics, community clinics, transportation etc.

Directs telephone calls and visitors and communicates information appropriately.

Processes physicians' orders by identifying priority of STAT and routine orders and takes appropriate action by notifying personnel or services responsible. Seeks clarification of orders when appropriate.

Promptly and accurately initiates and checks on status of referrals, lab, and imaging procedures.

Makes numerous calls each day to coordinate information and actions relating to patient care and services. Relays information and requests from the patients and /or clinical services to the treatment team.

Ensures that transportation/escort services are properly arranged.

Compiles a consolidated computerized appointment sheet which shows tests, procedures, clinic appointments, therapies etc., for all patients on the unit foreach day of the week.

Performs miscellaneous duties which may include, but are not limited to obtaining office supplies for the unit, scanning, xeroxing needing medical data, faxing, preparing admission packets, distributing mail to staff and patients, obtaining medical records, and x-rays, etc.

Files, maintains, and secures medical records as appropriate.

Pre-Registration, verifying and updating demographics and insurance information.

Initiating and ensuring completion of work orders for the unit, including messages in VISTA for furniture or key requests for the floor.

The MSA follows established procedures for scheduling appointments.

The MSA schedules and arranges patient appointments to avoid conflict of treatment. Next notifies professional staff of appointments pending and any special preparation needs.

Provides clerical support for the use of the computer contingency plan.

Assists in training new or less experienced employees