Adv Med Support Assistant

Advanced Medical Support Assistant

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position serves as a Clinic Clerk and is a foundational role within the VHA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) initiative as well as the VHA Patient Centered Medical Home Model transformation initiative. Patient care is delivered in a team-based model known as the teamlet.

Responsibilities include the following :

• Customer service is essential in this role. Performs all administrative duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics.
• Assists with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates as well as shift patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and / or coverage occurs.
• Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients using the approved protocols of patient identifiers.
• The patient may also present the Veterans Identification Card (VIC) for identification.
• Uses each interaction with the patient to validate and update patient demographic information, either in person during check-in or over the phone, to decrease the incidence of returned mail due to incorrect addresses and inability to contact patient by phone due to incorrect number.
• Incumbent will ensure that all necessary health / administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to scanning.
• Incumbent must be able to interpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities : Schedule appointments and utilize the Electronic Waiting List accurately in a timely manner.
• All appointments will be made with the patient's input, either in person or by phone.
• This may require a high level of coordination to avoid patients having to make multiple trips to the medical center or clinic whenever possible.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested.
• Is astute to co-managed patients and brings attention to the provider of these shared patients.
• Notifies his / her supervisor when clinic access is less than desirable or if an individual patient cannot be scheduled within mandated clinic timeframes.
• Daily review of active / pending consults, Electronic Wait List, Recall list and Audiocare communications for accuracy and disposition.
• Independently manage position responsibilities with little supervision as well as set priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs.
• Provide input for problem solving in team meetings.
• Between visits tasks may include telephone or secure messaging follow-up to see how the patient is doing, reinforcing the plan of care and encouraging self-help solutions.
• The pivotal part of the PACT Team is they monitor pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit / procedure (e.g., x-ray, lab work).
• Identifies incomplete encounter information and communicating findings to providers to facilitate accurate workload credit and revenue collection.
• Explains VA's mandate to collect insurance information to veterans.
• He / she collects, scans, and updates health insurance information serving a major role in the revenue process.
• The incumbent contributes to the revenue collection process by identifying patients with third party insurance.
• Performs receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics.
• Assists with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates as well as shift patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and / or coverage occurs.
• Incumbent utilizes various reports from the MSA Supervisor, i.e. Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary, to ensure clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic.
• The MSA Supervisor accepts recommendations for clinic adjustments by the Advanced MSA.
• Panel Management is an important function within the teamlet and is the responsibility of the Medical Support Assistant.
• The MSA uses various VHA databases (eg PCMM, Clinical Reminder Reports, VSSC, Proclarity, Wait times, patient satisfaction, etc.) to extract categorize, and collate specific patient / provider metrics required to manage the chronic and preventive health care needs of the panel.
• Develops and maintains specific reports used by the team to monitor, track and trend care delivery as well as participating / leading quality improvement efforts focused on cost, access, quality and satisfaction.
• A critical role performed is the Patient Health Coach.
• Health coaching supports the VHA Patient Centered Medical Home model by improving patient experience and enhancing patient self-management skills by expanding face-to-face and non face-to-face encounters conducted by the MSA.
• These encounters involve working with patients prior to a face-to-face visit, post-visit follow-up and between visits.

Work Schedule : 7 : 30 am - 4 : 00 pm

Telework : Not available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 52850-A

Financial Disclosure Report : Not required

Requirements Conditions of Employment

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.

Experience : Must have six (6) months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position.

OR, Education : Have one (1) year of education above high school.

OR, Combination of experience and education : Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grade Determinations

GS-6 Experience : In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 level.

The specialized experience for this position includes the following, but not limited to :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. At this level, candidates must also demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) :

References : VA Handbook 5005 / 117, Part II, Appendix G-45, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards, GS-0679, Veterans Health Administration.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06

Physical Requirements : The position involves work that is mainly sedentary but requires some bending, walking, standing and lifting / carrying (under 15 LB) of supplies, patient records, staff and patient mail. Some assignments may involve more frequent walking, but these assignments require no unusual physical demands to perform work. The incumbent will need to have the ability to verbally communicate and hear (aid is permitted) using a telephone and also must be able to type and operate computer equipment as an essential part of their position.

Education Not required.

Additional Information