Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) in Community Care Services , under the office of the Chief of Staff in the Ann Arbor Medical Center.

This announcement is being used to create an fill multiple positions for the inception of the VA's new Electronic Health Records Management (EHRM) System.

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.

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education. (1) Experience.

Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR, (2) Education.

One year above high school; OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination:.

Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:GS-6 Medical Support Assistant (Advanced): One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

This experience includes: 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.

In addition, 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/.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, although some slight physical effort will be required using computers/phones; there may be some light lifting/carrying of files/documents; and walking throughout the service/facility for meetings, etc.

Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties of this position will include, but are not limited to: Coordinate with their teamlets to set up care in the community under the Mission Act Standards.

Develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; Communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team; Notify patients of normal lab results; Develop and manage a tracking system for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.).

Perform various clerical and administrative duties for the department; Participate in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; Setting priorities and deadlines for scheduling in the community, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; May work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the Electronic Health Record (EHR); Monitor pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient care in the community; Manage active and schedule list of consults in community care; participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, Perform administrative follow up actions; Participate in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information; Precepting and assisting in deskside training for new staff or new team members and Collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care while in the community and back to the VA.

Responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties.

Routinely communicate with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 07:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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 #: 91463A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized