Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

About the role

Serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) within Imaging Service, located at the Wilmington, NC Health Care Center. The AMSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Imaging Service Line. The incumbent performs these responsibilities with self-direction in the processing, care, and treatment of Veterans while functioning as a team member in the patient care delivery setting.

Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model within the Imaging Service including team huddles that are used to manage, plan, and set priorities and deadlines for meeting timeliness of scheduling imaging studies.
• Captures and maintains accurate patient information and ensures all necessary pre-procedure workup is completed and meets procedure requirements prior to the procedure.
• 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 to assure readiness for imaging exam/procedure and resolving issues, if needed.
• Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients through the use of two forms of identification, name and Social Security Number or DOB.
• 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.
• 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). 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.

Requirements

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Examples of experience include but are not limited to: Scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults. Monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient appointment/procedure including X-rays, Lab work, MRI safety screening requirements, etc.

Skills

• 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.
• 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.

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.

Benefits

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).

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Benefits

Includes a variety of benefits such as health, vision, dental, term life, long-term care, and retirement plans. Additional benefits may include parental leave, childcare subsidy, and telework options.

Application Process

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.