Lead Medical Support Assistant

Lead Medical Support Assistant

The Lead Medical Support Assistant is responsible for assuring that various aspects of staffing, training, compliance, reporting, quality assurance, and budgetary initiatives are met. These activities directly affect the revenue cycle, patient access to care, hospital performance goals and objectives, as well as VHA public image. The incumbent plays 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. His/her work also impacts processes, action plans, monitoring and reporting. Failure to perform these duties properly could result in the veteran not receiving the treatment to which he/she is entitled or priority access to care to which he/she is entitled. The lack of coordination provided by this employee could negatively impact upon clinical and/or administrative functions.

A large part of the duties of a Clinical Support Section employee is acting as a receptionist at the clinic, either face-to-face or telephonically, requiring excellent customer service skills. The work requires a high degree of judgment in responding to both employee and patient concerns and providing solutions to process problems as they affect day-to-day operations. The work is mostly sedentary and is performed in various outpatient clinics or office settings responsible for treating patients with a wide variety of medical problems. The performance of daily rounds to the assigned clinic areas is required. This may include frequent visits to off-site clinics to fill-in for or interact with the Clinical Support Section employees and clinical/administrative staff in these areas. May be required to work staggered shifts and/or weekend clinics in support of Advanced Clinic Access initiatives.

The Lead Medical Support Assistant works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.e. PACT) and performs receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned to the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics. He/she must assist with clinical access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates as well as shift patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and/or coverage occurs. Incumbents must screen/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes. A caring, compassionate and sensitive manner is essential when explaining procedures to veterans and their family members both in person and on the phone. The Lead MSA can independently manage position responsibilities with little supervision as well as set priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs. The Lead MSA participates in the daily team led huddles and weekly team meetings where patient care planning and management occur, except during staff shortages for coverage. Notifies his/her supervisor when clinic access is less than desirable or if an individual patient cannot be scheduled within mandated clinic timeframes. Daily review of active/pending consults, Recall list and Audio care communications for accuracy and disposition. Coordinates administrative services for veterans, family members, caregivers, and public, administrative and clinical staff to ensure continuity of inpatient and outpatient care. When records are received, the incumbent will ensure that all necessary health/administrative information are received, the incumbent will ensure that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by scanning the records into the patient's chart and/or sending them to the Scanning Department. Incumbent develops and maintains effective working relationships with all clinical and administrative staff in determining priorities of activities in support of direct patient care. Interprets and applies to a complex body of pertinent laws, regulations, directives, and policies that relate to the administration of VA Healthcare Benefits. The ability to distribute and balance the workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization, ensures timely accomplishment of the assigned workload and ensures that each employee has enough work to keep busy. Directs daily work of Clinical Support Section employees in the absence of the supervisor.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm

Telework: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized