Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Full Job Description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) within the Business Office Enrollment and Eligibility section, serves as the primary administrative contact for current, new, transferring and travelling Veterans.

The role involves advising applicants on the health benefits they are legally entitled to.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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 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 above, applicants must meet the following experience. Experience.

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-5 Medical Support Assistant grade level.

Creditable experience 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.).

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Candidates must demonstrate 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. Note: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed.

Information such as "I was a Medical Support Assistant" is insufficient to determine your qualifications.

Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.

Preferred Experience: Knowledge in Enrollment functions and policies, processes to include Environmental Registry scheduling criteria and process Patient Scheduling for transitioning Active Duty Members, Toxic Exposure Exams.

Note: Quality of Experience.

Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade level.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity/difficulty and a range of varieties.

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-06.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Typically, the Advanced Medical Support Assistant must be able to operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one time.

Work is generally sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items.

Work Environment: The work may be stressful due to the accelerated pace for several hours at a time during peak clinic hours or on days that have a large volume of clinic activity. Major Duties:

This Advanced Level Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position serves as a Patient Service Section AMSA and is a foundational role within the area.

The incumbent collaborates with other members of the facility's healthcare team and other VA healthcare facilities to provide a robust interdisciplinary approach to care.

Important interfaces and collaborations also occur with larger health care system providers including VA and non-VA specialists, hospitals, diagnostic and treating facilities, and community-based programs.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Receipt, intake, modification, and indexing of health administrative and health benefits related information.

Work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model to schedule; Use the Integrated Scheduling Solutions (ISS) package to enrolling Veterans under the MTF program for Primary Care, Mental Health or other specialty care related needs, Toxic Exposure screenings, and Military Environmental consults.

Coordinate with the patient care team is essential to review clinic schedules, ensure efficient utilization, and the even distribution of new patient appointment slots among healthcare providers, using various clinic and utilization reports.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am -4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be approved for inclement weather only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 61252F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized