The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Medical Support Assistant in the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). Time may be spent at San Bruno Clinic as well as main campus. Positions may be located in Medical Practice, EYE/ENT, Hem/Onc, Infectious Disease, Women's Clinic, Modules I, II, & Ill, Compensation & Pension, Occupational Health.
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: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j. 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). Grandfathering Provision: All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, [which] are [a] part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or [changed to a lower grade] within the occupation. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was converted to [Title] 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Supervisory Medical Support Assistant, GS-8 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level leading or supervising MSAs or equivalent administrative patient support staff in a non-VA medical inpatient, outpatient, or interdisciplinary setting. Preferred Experience: Background in managing scheduling workflows, ensuring efficiency, and supporting team development in an outpatient clinical settings. Assignment: Supervisory MSAs at this level plan and direct programs at medical centers and/or satellite outpatient clinics. They have full responsibility for supervising at least one subordinate MSA team leader, supervisor, or equivalent administrative patient support staff in a non-VA medical inpatient, outpatient, or interdisciplinary setting. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: evaluating the work of subordinate staff; resolving complex problems to ensure patient services are met; evaluating new products, equipment, and systems to make recommendations for improved operations; identifying educational or training needs; making final decisions on hiring selections; evaluating performance, and taking disciplinary action when necessary. The employee has administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the subordinate lead, supervisor, and MSA's activities. Responsible for extracting and analyzing data to provide reports to senior management in support of tracking measures. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: i. Ability to provide the full range of administrative and supervisory duties [to at least one subordinate MSA supervisor or team leader in a patient support setting which includes assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards and/or advancements. ii. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service and interpersonal skills with internal and external customers to ensure quality/continuity of care and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. iii. Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training in a patient support setting. iv. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and identify budget needs. v. Advanced knowledge of managing or leading patient support staff in a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
The Supervisory Medical Support Assistant is responsible for managing and supervising all the appointment management services of the clinics and supervises all Lead and Advanced Medical Support Assistants (MSAs). He/she collaborates with and has an extensive knowledge of all clinical services and programs, to include primary care, specialty care, mental health and ancillary services. The incumbent is flexible, multi-skilled and creative in solving everyday challenges unique to a remote site. This position assigns work and daily priorities to all Lead and Advanced MSAs and ensures the goals and mission of the Clinic and Health Care System are being met. S/he is responsible for all performance management functions related to Lead and Advanced MSAs, as well as work study students and volunteers providing support within his/her program. The Supervisory Medical Support Assistant applies principles, methods and guidelines to evaluate administrative operations in order to determine best practices for organizing administrative work and flow of patients throughout the clinic. S/he must take into consideration the staff ratios and skill mixes needed to accomplish the work. Analysis results in recommendations for improvement and implementation of new systems and processes that are discussed with the rest of the management team for decisions regarding the efficiency of clinic operations. The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake and indexing of health and administrative information. The incumbent will interface with personal computer (PC) applications as well as numerous VISTA applications. The incumbent will also serve as the ADPAC for Medical Practice or Specialty Clinics. Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: plans and directs programs in the clinic, supporting primary care, and/or specialty care. The incumbent is responsible for implementing and enforcing clinic changes Advises supervisor strategies to manage clinic access and ensure compliant appointment management practices per VA scheduling directive guidelines. Manages CPRS view alerts from providers for action involving patient care follow-up. Ensures subordinate Lead and Advanced MSAs appropriately manage new consults for specialty and/or primary care clinics in CPRS to ensure consults are scheduled timely and within VA guidelines. Ensures patient aligned care teams (PACTs) have the appropriate equipment, supplies and space to safely accomplish work. Monitors and analyzes Automated Call Distribution (ACD) data to ensure timely phone access for patients and provides feedback and training to staff; identifies developmental and training needs for all staff operating on the ACD system. Disseminates new VA Directives and procedures that impact/relate to front desk and clinic operations and provides training to staff. Anticipates problems and develops systems and processes to ensure the goals and mission of the VA are able to be met. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; resolving complex problems to ensure patient services are met; evaluating new products, equipment and systems in order to make recommendations for improved operations; identifying educational or training needs; making final decision on selections; evaluating performance, and taking disciplinary action when necessary. Analyzing staffing and workload patterns to ensure appropriate coverage of workload needs. Planning work to be accomplished by subordinates, setting and adjusting priorities. Determining appropriate tours of duty. Incumbent has full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the Lead and Advanced MSAs activities. The incumbent will also serve as the ADPAC for Medical Practice or Specialty Clinics. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, PST Functional Statement #: GS-0679-8