Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) under Physical Medicine and Rehab Service at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Duties are conducted under the direct supervision of the Administrative Officer/Business Manager of Rehabilitation Service. The incumbent will work closely with the Service and assistant Chiefs - Team Leaders - Program Specialist and Lead MSA of the assigned section and may accompany the team on rounds - meetings - and trainings.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 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 required
• Education
• High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• Licensure/Certification/Registration
• None Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates 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 GS-06: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above - the following must be met
• Experience: Do you possess at least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) with experience in work that has been performed independently - or under minimal general supervision - and includes experience related to the position being filled or performing such tasks as scheduling appointments for Veterans - applying VA regulations and directives
• completing annual means test
• coordinate with patients care team
• adjusting the patient flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs
• enters appropriate information into the electronic record
• monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit? Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Assignment: For 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 time
• At 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 model
• Work 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 resources
• Recommend changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines
• 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 that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics - and makes adjustments as necessary
• MSAs 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 discharge
• communicate with non-VA medical facilities
• prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results
• manage a system for follow-up care such as consults - tests - etc.)
• Preferred Experience: At least one year of outpatient clinical scheduling experience in a high volume - dynamic environment - with strong customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality customer service - work effectively in a fast paced - multidisciplinary setting while prioritizing multiple tasks - meeting deadlines - and adapting to shifting workload demands and policy changes 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-06
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.
  
  

Duties

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Major duties include but are not limited to: Scheduling - cancelling - re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults
• entering no-show information and appointment cancellation information
• Sending appointment notifications - instructions - and reminder/cancellation letters to patients - checking in patients arriving for their appointments
• Verifying and updating patient demographic and performing basic eligibility - co-pays and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage and insurance capture
• Logging into automatic computer-based phone system to answer and direct multi-line phone systems in a courteous manner
• Taking complete accurate telephone messages and/or documentation of contact into CPRS via view alerts
• Enters appropriate - complete - accurate information into electronic record (CPRS/VISTA) and other clinical information systems as appropriate to the area assigned
• As required - types routine correspondence - progress reports - memorandums and statistical reports using Vista - Microsoft Word and Excel
• Maintains up to date training on VA Scheduling Requirements
• May provide on-the-job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices and may provide feedback to the new employee
• Reconciles end-of-shift/end-of-day processing and reports
• Ordering and keeping records of supplies
• Reconciles end-of-shift/end-of-day processing and reports
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 662-10276F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized