The Marion, IL VA Medical Center is accepting applications for five (5) Advanced Medical Support Assistants (AMSAs) for the Referral Care Team (RCT). These positions report to the Nurse Manager, RCT. The incumbents play an integral role in identifying and developing ways to resolve problems with the administrative and clinical staff on access, customer service, patient flow, revenue and data validation issues. His/her work also impacts processes, action plans, monitoring and reporting.

Duties

The Advanced RCT MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and performs customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics. He/she must assist 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 must screen/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes. A caring, compassionate, and sensitive manner is essential when explaining procedures to Veterans and their family members both in person and on the phone. The RCT AMSA can 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. The RCT AMSA participates in the daily team huddles and weekly team meetings where patient care planning and management occur, except during staff shortages for coverage. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Notify when clinic access is less than desirable or if an individual patient cannot be scheduled within mandated clinic timeframes. Coordinate administrative services for Veterans, family members, caregivers, and public, administrative and clinical staff to ensure continuity of inpatient and outpatient care. Ensure that all necessary health/administrative information is integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to be scanned. Develops and maintain effective working relationships with all clinical and administrative staff in determining priorities of activities in support of direct patient care. Interpret and apply a complex body of pertinent laws, regulations, directives, and policies that relate to the administration of VA Healthcare Benefits. Generate patient workload reports for validation and monitor activity in clinical areas to assure consistent and accurate reporting.. interpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities. Schedule appointments accurately in a timely manner. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (excluding weekends and Federal holidays). Telework: AdHoc Virtual: No Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. You MUST meet one of the three combinations of education and experience described below to meet the BASIC qualifications for this position: (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. 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: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-6(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. In order to be considered at the GS-6 grade level, you must fully meet (experience must be documented in your resume or separate KSA responses) both the GS-5 and GS-6 KSAs: GS-5 KSAs i. Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports. ii. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. iii. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. iv. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. v. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. vi. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. GS-6 KSAs: i. 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. ii. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. iii. 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. iv. 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. v. 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. vi. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-45. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the Advanced MSA sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Marion VA Medical Center 2401 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959 US
• Name: Carol Stewart
• Phone: 618-922-5231
• Email: [email protected]