Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Summary

This position serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) for the VA Central California Health Care System in Mental Health Service in Fresno - CA. The AMSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.

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 Policy
• Education
• High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• 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)
• GS-6 Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-6: Experience
• In addition to meeting the basic requirements - applicants must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5)
• This experience includes 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
• and monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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
• 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: The work is mostly sedentary - although some slight physical effort will be required using computers/phones
• there may be some light lifting/carrying of files/documents
• and walking throughout the service/facility for meetings - etc.
  
  

Duties

• Major Duties include: Uses 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
• Recommends 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
• Develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams - VA medical centers - and other agencies Processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate
• participates 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
• Identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers
• as needed
• assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions
• Enters appropriate information into the electronic record
• Monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure
• Manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues
• Evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment
• Informs team members about shared patient
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: May be available on a limited ad hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 05087A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized