Advanced Medical Support Assistant - Community Care

Summary The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model to coordinate care for veterans utilizing Community Care Network providers. The Advanced MSA reports directly to the VA Community Care Supervisory MSA. Qualifications 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: 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 requiredEducation: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of EducationLicensure/Certification/RegistrationNone Physical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirementsEnglish Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f)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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in paragraph 3 above - the following experience criteria must also be met when determining the grade of candidates: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) GS-6: (1) ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the [GS-5] grade level(2) AssignmentThe Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery modelWork 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 care in the community resourcesRecommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelinesExpertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery modelCoordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics - and makes adjustments as necessaryMSAs 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 agenciesOther assignments at this level include - but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriateparticipates in team huddles and team meetings to manage - plan - problem solve - and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary teamsetting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needsidentifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providersas neededassists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutionsenters appropriate information into the electronic recordmonitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/proceduremanages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issuesevaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointmentinforms team members about shared patients (i.e. - those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community).For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time(c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesCandidates must demonstrate ALL of the KSAs below: iAbility to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.gmedical 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 metiiAbility to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulationsiiiAbility to communicate tactfully and effectively - electronically - by phone - in person - and in writing - [with internal and external customersThis may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels - as well as resolving patient concernsivAdvanced 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 carevAdvanced 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 - etcviAdvanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by cliniciansPreferred Experience: 1-2 years VA scheduling experience with the VA - ideally within Community Care DepartmentFamiliar with electronic health recordsExtensive knowledge of medical terminologyReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy GS-06 Physical Requirements: The Advanced MSA position is primarily sedentary and requires prolonged sitting and typingThe position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterityThis position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting and lifting of at least 35 pounds on an occasional basisStaff may rarely be exposed to Veterans who are combative - sedentary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders while in patient care areas. Duties VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelinesExpert in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery modelCoordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability/utilization to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics and make adjustment as necessaryDevelops and/or maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams - VA medical centers - and other agencies (e.g. - assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient dischargecommunicate with non-VA medical facilitiesprepare correspondence to notify patients of appointment detailsProcesses incoming patient secure messaging and coordinates with care team as appropriateparticipates in team huddles and team meetings to manage - plan - problem solve - and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team Setting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needsas needed Assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutionsenters appropriate information into the electronic record Monitors pre- appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure Manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issuesEvaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointmentinforms team members about shared patientsScreens new community care consults for eligibility and duplication - communicates with community providers Schedules Veteran appointments with community providers using electronic scheduling softwareRoutinely communicates with physicians - case managers and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and remains consistently aware of sensitive informationWork Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 positionFunctional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized