Lead Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support Assistant

Assists with the coordination of patients and follows them through their first clinic appointment to their post-operative appointments, making sure that any patient issues or problems are identified and resolved at the surgical subspecialty level, although a multidisciplinary approach may be needed.

Provides knowledge of all VAMC programs, policies, directives, resources, and processing requirements for surgery, thereby offering continuity of patient care to the respective specialty.

Serves as a multi-skilled person dedicated to patient care management of their assigned specialty by promoting patient flow and administrative efficiency in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Takes calls from outside medical providers concerning referrals and transfers that would otherwise create complex coordination of encounters for patient and professional health providers.

Ensures consults are received and addressed in a timely manner and to prioritize making clinic appointments based on the severity of the case and the order of patient acknowledged. Example: routine consults are scheduled within a month of receiving unless patient circumstances prevent a visit.

Works with the surgical teams to arrange transportation, accommodations, and medical notices to the patient's employers, accomplished by completing and filling disability and leave of absence paperwork for California State and Medicare.

Composes personalized letters requested by patients and obtains appropriate physician verification and signatures of highest importance that are urgent or stat consults. These are usually placed through email or phone by outside medical providers.

Communicates effectively and articulates complex materials.

Sustains high responsibilities by orchestrating emergent patient intake or a clinic visit with a 7-10 day time frame.

Acts as the patients' primary advocate, updating and reassuring patients through the surgical scheduling process that may overload the subordinate team leaders or supervisors.

Receives a high volume of calls from patients and effectively triages to appropriate providers.

Interacts frequently with cardiology, radiology, ultrasound, pulmonary, social work, dentistry, physical therapy, and medical practice.

Organizes set booking times with specific services midweek when patients are most likely to be at SFVA for clinic.

Regulates bed control by communicating with the sub specialty MSAs, social workers, admissions office and medical teams and reporting to the Supervisory MSA. Coordinates coverage with consult scheduling, surgical scheduling, and ensures phone coverage while other MSA's are on leave.

Helps with issues pertaining to the Surgical Package, delinquent op reports, discharge summaries and patient encounters.

Addresses patient concerns and complaints through working with the SFVA patient advocate and in some cases may report findings to the AO of Surgical Service.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor

Telework: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 08126F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs