Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Summary

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) provides clerical administrative support in the coordination - care - and treatment provided to patients throughout the Primary Care Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) - Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and across multiple clinics and specialties. The AMSA serves within the Primary Care Service Line at Bismarck VA Clinic - located in Bismarck - ND.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• 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)
• b
• Experience
• None
• c
• Education
• High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• d
• Licensure/Certification/Registration
• None
• f
• Foreign Education
• To 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 credentials
• g
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• h
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-06 Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Qualifying 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 filled
• AND 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 customers
• This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels - as well as resolving patient concerns
• To 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 setting
• 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.
  
  

Duties

• The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient care 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
• Assignments include - but are not limited to: Scheduling - canceling - and rescheduling patient appointments and/or consults - Telehealth and Video appointments (VVC) Entering no-show information Monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources - processing incoming patient communication in multiple formats and coordinating with care team as appropriate
• Participate 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 Sets priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs Identify incomplete encounters - communicate findings to providers - as needed
• Assists the team in reinforcing the plan of care and self-help solutions
• Enters appropriate information into the electronic record
• Monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to ensure readiness for patient visit/procedure Manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues
• Evaluates patient information and clinic schedules to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment Informs team members about shared patients (i.e. - those who receive care at multiple VA centers or who receive care in the community)
• Requests pertinent information from patient records (inside/outside facilities) and submits to team for review in preparation for provider visit
• Retrieve medication profiles - test results - and patient information from electronic medical record - as requested by the clinician
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified individuals
• 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 military service experience
• Parental 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 child
• Child 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 $416.66
• Retirement: 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 position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized