Adv Med Support Assistant

Full Job Description

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) to join Community Care Service.

The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) functions as a vital part of the delivery of care provided to Veterans receiving services from outside the Battle Creek VA Medical Center facilities.

Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).

Experience. No experience required. Education.

High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.

Licensure/Certification/Registration. None Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Advanced Medical Support Assistant, GS-6 Experience - One (1) full year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

This experience may include but is not limited to; independently performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes.

The AMSA is responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments.

Coordinates administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals and determines appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.).

Note: This experience must be clearly demonstrated in your resume. 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary. It typically requires sitting with sustained periods of concentration.

There will be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of relatively light objects. The position may also require stooping, reaching, lifting, pulling, and other moderate exertion or strain.

Incumbent may occasionally have to walk some distance to a meeting. Major Duties:

The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) 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 Community Care resources.

Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines.

Duties include but are not limited to: AMSAs 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.

Assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge. Communicate with non-VA medical facilities.

Creates authorization for payment of community care in the Healthshare Referral Manager (HSRM) or alternative software with pertinent information including the community provider's name, address, category of care, referral number, number of visits, purpose of visit, and length of authorization.

Provides administrative support to ensure all pertinent information is transmitted to appropriate parties for community care that is authorized under any other funding sources.

Electronically uploads all pertinent clinical and administrative data into HSRM.

Maintains awareness and proficiency in all web-based application to include, PPMS, CTM and third-party administrator portal.

Serves as an administrative point of contact in the request, coordination, and authorization for community care consults.

Works collaboratively with Registered Nurse Care Coordinators, Program Analyst, and other VA Staff and Community Care providers.

Receives, handles, and transfer calls appropriately with regard to telephone inquires from numerous sources including patients, other VA staff, and community providers concerning items including but not limited to; authorization terms, appointment status and billing/claims status.

Prepares correspondence to be sent to community care providers that includes details about the terms of the authorization, the appointment date and time, and all pertinent clinical data as instructed by the RN.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 91468A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized