Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support Assistant

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) is responsible for functions such as serving as an initial point of contact for the units, clinics, and patients, to include scheduling patient appointments, tracking, reviewing, and responding to electronic orders, consults, and other elements in the electronic medical record and medical systems. The AMSA position requires practical knowledge of computerized data entry, information processing systems and software related to patient care, the healthcare systems organization and services, basic rules and regulations governing visitors and patient treatment, knowledge of standard procedures, utilizing medical records, and medical terminology.

Major duties include (but not limited to):

• Greet and check in patients, assist patients with mobile check-in if needed.
• Gather medical information if needed.
• Refer patients to appropriate member of health care team as needed.
• Report backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians.
• Document complaints.
• Ability to identify customer's concerns, perform the tasks required to resolve the issues accurately and timely, and follow-up as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

Perform receptionist duties.

• Monitor copying and faxing.
• Answer and route incoming phone calls.
• Maintain medical charts.
• Generate patient workload reports and monitors activity.
• Serve as a technical advisor and liaison.
• Respond to secure messages.
• Respond to appointment requests.

Scheduling expectations.

• Follow the current VA Scheduling Directive and Minimum Scheduling efforts.

Administrative duties.

• Check recall reminder lists to avoid delinquencies.
• Prepare for clinic including printing appointment and clinic lists.
• Monitor ICB and patient demographics.
• Ensure encounter forms are completed.
• Ensure recalls are completed daily.
• Consult report clean up daily.
• Routinely review of active/pending consults daily.
• Interpret, verify, and disposition of provider orders.
• Complete reports.
• Monitor appointments for area of responsibility.
• Monitor and maintain clinic grids with supervision.
• Process all transfer to other facilities.
• Assist with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, locations, or dates.
• Request medical records from Community Care providers and non-VA healthcare institutions.
• Conduct special audits, studies or surveys as requested.
• Collect complete and appropriate data for reporting purposes.
• Organize and implement quality assurance documents for supervisor.
• Enter and monitor work orders.
• Order supplies and equipment.
• Provide coverage for scheduling staff during intermittent shortages.

Serves as a mentor to GS 3-5 MSAs.

• Learn new processes to oversee training and implementation among other MSAs.
• Provide training during orientation and/or remedial for existing staff as needed.
• Resolve daily workplace issues.
• Provide guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance to MSA staff on the most current VA Scheduling Directive and Minimum Scheduling efforts.

Special duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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 #/Position Title: 000000/Medical Support Assistant Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized