Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Summary

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) in Community Care works under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Medical Support Assistant. The workload is highly unpredictable an incumbent must be flexible and adaptive to remain responsive to multiple demands made by internal and external sources.

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.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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
• Documentation Requirements for Proof of High School Completion or higher If using post-high school education to substitute for experience at the GS-04 or GS-05 - you must submit a copy of your unofficial or official college transcript with your application
• If selected - to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended - applicants must provide one of the following as verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfathering provision: Copy of high school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR college transcript (official) Licensure/Certification/Registration: None
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in above - the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: (KSAs must be clearly reflected in the resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level)
• Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) GS-06: Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below in their resume: 1
• 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
• 2
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations
• 3
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively - electronically - by phone - in person] - and inwriting - 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
• 4
• 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
• 5
• 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
• 6
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
• Preferred Experience: CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System) Consult Tool Management Microsoft Word - Excel - and Spreadsheet Software Customer Service Skills Works Independently Typing Skills 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
  
  

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is in the Community Care Service - Alexandria VA Health Care System (AVAHCS)
• This position provides support to the Supervisory AMSA and Business Manager of the Community Care Service
• The AVAHCS offers a full range of acute and chronic care services for Veterans residing in a 23-parish catchment area in Louisiana
• Services include but are not limited to medicine - surgery - psychiatry - rehabilitative medicine - long term care - women's health - blind rehabilitation - mental health - substance abuse - services for the seriously mental ill and nursing home care
• Duties include but are not limited to: Verify eligibility to receive community care - coordinate care through appropriate channel (direct - TPA - Provider Agreement) - coordinate care - schedule appointments in VA system for community appointments Performs independently and carries out programs within the framework of applicable laws - procedures - and objectives Confirm care received Request medical documents from community provider/TPA portal Performs administrative functions in VA systems and perform other duties as assigned
• Assists staff - Veterans - community vendors and Claims Processing Unit with identifying and resolving issues pertaining to consult status - authorization details - payment questions - care coordination and other issues as needed
• Addresses problems and provides solutions and informs the Supervisory MSA once rectified and seeks further guidance for extenuating circumstances as needed
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am -4:00pm or 8:00am - 4;30pm
• subject to change based on the needs of the facility 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 [work experience] or 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: Available Functional Statement #: 502-00318F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized