These Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), also known as Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA), positions are in the Medical Administration Services at the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System in Biloxi, MS. Additional positions located at the CBOCS in Panama City Beach, FL and at Eglin AFB, FL. Select all locations you are willing to consider. Once selected for a specific location as indicated in your application, changes in assigned location after selection will not be considered.
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 and Education. (1) Experience. Six 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, (2) Education. One year above high school; OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None required. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Medical Support Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy. Grade Determinations. To qualify for the GS-06 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06 (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your resume that you have experience that includes: Entering, modifying, retrieving sensitive information into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports; Scheduling medical appointments in a clinical setting; Performing patient support work; Providing customer service and identifying patient concerns to ensure satisfactory resolution; Advanced level of medical terminology. (b) Assignment. The Advanced MSA provides 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. 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. 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.). (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, you must demonstrate ALL of the following KSAs in your resume: 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing tasks. A high degree of personal and professional accountability, maturity, stability and the ability to function independently and work effectively as a team with internal and external personnel. Ability to adapt to changing work assignments as needed to meet facility needs. **Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.** 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: 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.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. The primary duties may include but are not limited to: Using specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics or specialties and/or care in the community resources. Coordinating with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability and utilization to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics Making adjustments as necessary in accordance with local and national directives, policies, and procedures. Facilitating/processing secure messaging with the patient and team; Notifying patients of normal lab results; Developing and managing a tracking system for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.). Participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; Setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; Identifying incomplete encounters and communicate findings to clinical team members, Reinforcing the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic record; Monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work), registration, management of consult requests, recall reminders, VA Online Scheduling requests, secure messaging, and Electronic Wait Lists to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; Participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, Participating in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care; Educating providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community) and bringing to the attention of the clinical team; Registering new patients for care when necessary to facilitate same day appointment scheduling; Updating patient demographic data, collecting insurance information, and negotiating appointments during check-out, and scheduling follow-up/ consult appointments, Entering recall reminder requests; Contacting patients that fail to appear for scheduled appointments. Scheduling all appointments in a timely manner with patient input. Setting priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and Veteran needs while ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. Communicating tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing with internal and external customers. Coordinating efforts to ensure all aspects of duties are accomplished efficiently, timely, and correctly. Communicating with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information. Work Schedule: Typically Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm. This schedule is subject to change based on Agency needs. Determined by the supervisor and discussed during the interview. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-00133F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized