Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in the Health Administration Service at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center, Huntington, West Virginia.

working in Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service. The AMSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Service Line.

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: 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: Experience.

6 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, Education.

One year above high school; OR, Experience/Education Combination.

Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable Certification: None required. English Language Proficiency.

MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S.

must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.

programs.

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).

Grandfathering Provision.

All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, which are a part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

If an employee who was converted to Title 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: Advanced Medical Support Assistant GS-6 Grade Level: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the [GS-5] grade level.

Experience is defined as experience that includes, but is not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverage (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, etc.).

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate ALL of the following Knowledge, skills, and abilities for the GS-0679-6 level to qualify for this position: 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 and abbreviations Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-06. Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Work is partially sedentary, with frequent walking, standing, bending. carrying of light items such as papers and books, or small parts. Some slight physical effort may be required.

Incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties: The incumbent coordinates with the patient, interdisciplinary team including the radiologist, technologists, and patients' referring service team, nurses, other VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., communicates with non-VA medical facilities; notify patients of requirements prior to appointment including labs or x-rays; follow up care on imaging orders).

The incumbent monitors pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient appointment/procedure including X-rays, Lab work, MRI safety screening requirements, etc.

Data reports are run from the VistA Radiology Package and are used to manage radiology scheduling lists; this includes, pending, hold, and past scheduled exams validating accuracy, resolving issues and disposition of orders as required in accordance with policy.

Coordinates patient procedures by verifying pre-procedure workup is complete and meets procedure requirements prior to procedure.

This may include evaluating patient information, such as lab results and pre-procedure clinical screening for MRI and/or positron emission imaging (PET) exams to assure readiness for imaging exam/procedure and resolving issues, if needed.

Other assignments at this level include but are not limited to participating and providing input on problem solving with operational issues in team meetings, performing administrative follow up actions on orders and consults, educating providers about shared patients who are receiving care at multiple VAs or those who receive care in the community.

Works collaboratively with the Office of Community Care for scheduling of radiologic/nuclear medicine procedures performed in the community.

This includes gathering data on patients referred to the community and developing a report that is shared with the Office of Community Care to determine if the patients care has been completed.

The incumbent must effectively communicate with the Office of Community Care to ensure reports and images are received, processing orders and consults in accordance with policy and following up on outstanding consults.

Additionally, this may include ensuring outside providers have prior imaging exams that are necessary for interpretation.

Explains the VA's mandate to collect insurance information to Veterans, their families, and other eligible patients.

He/she collects, scans, and updates health insurance information, serving a major role in the revenue process.

The incumbent contributes to the revenue collection process by identifying patients with third-party insurance. Promotes Veteran registration for and utilization of My HealtheVet (MHV).

Develops and/or maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care model, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assists with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge.

Communicates with non-VA medical facilities.

x Incumbent schedules Veteran appointments in accordance with service procedures and policies and instructs the patients on standard preparation procedures required prior to testing (dietary instructions, lab tests, etc.).

The incumbent schedules appointments in the VistA scheduling package as well as the VistA radiology package.

Ensures all appointments are scheduled timely and makes every effort to meet the clinically indicated date of the provider.

Scheduler notifies section personnel immediately on the arrival of patients awaiting exams and any STAT request that is received.

Provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.

provides specialized administrative judgment and flexibility in the use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics and specialties including clinic cancellations.

has expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.

coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability/utilization to ensure the clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics (and adjusts, as needed).

manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues. evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment.

Work Schedule: Varies based on the needs of the service Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 23228-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized