The Advanced Level Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position serves as a clinic clerk and is a foundational role within the clinic.

Duties

Advanced Medical Support Assistant positions serve at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. This posting may be used to fill vacancies in the Clinic Practice Management Service or VA Community Care (VACC) section. Major Duties of VA Community Care (VACC) Advanced Medical Support Assistant: Provides administrative support to clinicians and other administrative and professional staff throughout the medical staff office for purposes of coordinating VA Community Care (VACC) for Veterans when the inpatient or outpatient provider has deemed such care necessary. Administrative scheduling and appointment coordination for diagnostic testing, and consultative appointments for many clinical services. Receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests, provide the information desired using privacy rules and established processes. Independently manage position responsibilities with little supervision as well as set priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of work to meet team and patient needs. Responsible for generating authorizations for pre-authorized outpatient, unauthorized and emergency care claims, while making eligibility determinations for the various programs in VA Community Care (VACC). Develops continuous monitors dealing with both clinical and administrative quality assessment and improvement activities. Reviews and determines veteran's eligibility for specialty programs in the VA Community Care (VACC) program and appropriately processes their authorizations. Works collaboratively with the Medical Center's managers, PACT Teams, VA providers, and discipline specific functional area professional and clinical leaders, as well as Social Workers, Managers and VA Community Care (VACC) healthcare professionals and community vendors. Major Duties of Clinical Practice Management Service Advanced Medical Support Assistant: Serves as contact for Veterans and/or his/her representative when seeking medical, or behavioral health treatment or other assistance at Outpatient Clinics Listens to problems or complaints, provides answers, information and guidance and initiates appropriate action Determines medical care benefits for which the Veteran is eligible by means of a working knowledge of appropriate health administration related laws, policies, guidelines and regulations Explains beneficiary eligibility and medical benefits which the VA may provide and the procedures to be followed in obtaining the various benefits Determines which Veterans may require immediate medical evaluation based on observation and information received from the Veteran or significant other about the nature of their medical problem(s) Schedules and cancels patient appointments utilizing the VistA Appointment Management package Performs administrative duties associated with patient care and treatment for all categories of beneficiaries, including service connected, non-service connected, active military personnel, active duty referrals and employees Assists with the patient application process which may include but is not limited to loading patient applications into VistA, determining eligibility for VA medical benefits, interviewing patients for registration data, calling/writing Veterans for missing information, loading financial data into Means Test/Co Pay packages, scheduling appointments and sending variety of letters to Veterans Work Schedule: Various tours are available and are to be determined by the Service during interview and confirmed upon selection. Telework: Some positions may be eligible. further information will be provided during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A group retention may be authorized after 90 days of employment. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not eligible Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 or Training: 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 One year above high school; OR Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical per VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: MSA's must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements. GS-06 Medical Support Assistant (Advanced). You must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Advising clinical staff on current administrative processes. Answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults in a computerized scheduling system; interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. Entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic, monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments. Coordinates administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals and determines appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.). AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/117 Part II Appendix G45. Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard GS-679. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items. Some positions may require sitting for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while talking on a telephone headset.

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Kevin Estrada
• Phone: 319-338-0581 X636728
• Email: [email protected]