Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Summary The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant for the Surgical Department located at Northport VA Medical Center. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant is responsible for a range of duties that typify the full-performance level - and which includes responsibility for interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA National Scheduling Directive guidelines. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperienceNone EducationHigh school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of EducationLicensure/Certification/RegistrationNoneGrandfathering ProvisionMay 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)Foreign EducationTo be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentialsPhysical 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)Creditable ExperienceTo be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient settingExperience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic settingQuality of ExperienceQualifying 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 of the position being filledFor all assignments above the full performance level (FPL) - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity - 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 timeGrade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specifiedMedical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-06(1) ExperienceOne year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade(2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) 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(b) 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(c) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians(d) 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(e) Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations(f) Ability 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 concerns(3) AssignmentFor all assignments above the FPL - the higher-level duties must be of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity - 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 timeAt the advanced level - the Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) (AMSA) performs difficult and responsible 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 resourcesRecommend 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 agencies (e.g. - assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient dischargecommunicate with non-VA medical facilitiesprepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab resultsmanage a system for follow-up care such as consults - tests - etc.)Other 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)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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing - walking - bending - twisting - and carrying lightitems. Duties Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinating patient care - appointment management - and customer service - always conducting oneself in a respectful - effective mannerProvides front-line independent assistance and coordination of care - addressing questions or concerns in a timely manner while providing excellence in customer serviceProvides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary care delivery modelUses specialized administrative judgment and a wide range of clinical processes related to access to care across the service unit and external clinicsFacilitates any necessary follow-up independently to ensure satisfactory resolution - utilizing expertise in systems related to the delivery of interdisciplinary patient-coordinated careEvaluates patient information to determine the appropriate care to be scheduledExemplifies the ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines - and to communicate tactfully and effectively electronically - by phone - and in writingMay prepare reports in various formats and present data to various organizational levelsExpertly utilizes all computerized programs and databases to enter - modify - and retrieve sensitive information and various data into or from the electronic medical record - scheduling systems - and/or reporting formatsMaintains patient confidentiality - both written and verbal - per HIPA A requirementsDemonstrates advanced knowledge of the associated medical terminology to effectively communicate with patients and members of the interdisciplinary teamWorks in a self-directed manner to accomplish team goals and ensure patient care needs are metThis includes independently setting priorities - coordinating the patient area - and any work assignments for areas within the departmentManages patient check-in across multiple clinics - ensuring accurate and timely processing of arrivals and coordinating with the care team to support smooth clinic flowCoordinates staffing coverage for the control clinic to ensure adequate administrative support and continuity of patient serviceWork Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen 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 #: 21Y82-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized