Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - Mental Health

About the role

The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) is located at the Fargo VA Medical Center within the Mental Health department. This position provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.

Responsibilities

• Greets and check-in patients, assists with mobile check-in if needed; gathers medical information if needed; refers patients to the appropriate member of the health care team as needed; reports backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, and uncooperative physicians; documents complaints; identifies customer's concerns, resolves issues accurately and timely, and follows up as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution; resolves difficult problems and diffuses potential dissatisfaction with VA services.
• Performs receptionist duties: monitors copying and faxing; answers and routes incoming phone calls.
• Maintains medical charts: generates patient workload reports and monitors activity; serves as a technical advisor and liaison (VISTA, CPRS, VSE, IPPS, etc.); responds to secure messages; responds to appointment requests through VAOS.
• Fulfills scheduling directives and minimum scheduling efforts; checks recall reminder lists to avoid delinquencies; prepares for clinics including printing appointment and clinic lists; monitors ICB and patient demographics; ensures encounter forms are completed; ensures return to clinic orders are completed daily; ensures recalls are completed daily; cleans up consult report daily; reviews active/pending consults daily; interprets, verifies, and disposes of provider orders.
• Completes reports; records meeting minutes, scribe with co-signer; monitors appointments for area of responsibility; monitors electronic wait list; monitors and maintains clinic grids with supervision; processes all transfers to other facilities; performs basic eligibility requirements; maintains warehouse supplies and clinic forms.
• Affords clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, locations or dates; completes/trains/shares knowledge of data programs such as VETEXT, VAOS, NEAR, Message Manager, Secure Messaging, Right Fax, Audiocare, etc.
• Requests medical records from Community Care providers and non-VA healthcare institutions; conducts special audits; studies or surveys as requested; collects complete and appropriate data for reporting purposes; organizes and implements quality assurance documents for supervisor; enters and monitors work orders; orders supplies and equipment; and provides coverage for scheduling staff during intermittent shortages.

Requirements

This announcement is open to the public and employees of other Federal agencies. Current, permanent VA employees should apply to announcement number CBSY-12955584-26-MS.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: Citizenship, Experience, Education, Licensure/Certification/Registration, Physical Requirements, English Language Proficiency.
• Grade Determinations: GS-6 Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Collaboration and communication with medical clinicians, independent prioritization and organization, effective communication, advanced knowledge of medical terminology, technical health care process, policies and procedures, and medical support administrative functions.

Benefits

Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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).

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

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

Benefits

Includes recruitment incentive (sign-on bonus), permanent change of station (relocation assistance), retirement, traditional federal pension (5 years vesting), federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance, Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care, telework, virtual, and seasonal influenza vaccination program.

Required Documents

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

Additional Information

Includes participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program, physical examination, and pre-employment onboarding process.