The Lead Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is a foundational role within Care in the Community/Non-VA Care department. The incumbent provides a high level of administrative and data support to our care in the community services. The incumbent's work impacts the timely administering aspect of patient care, including: proper eligibility review, timely authorization, coordinating care in the community and ensuring care is scheduled and rendered accordingly.

Duties

This list of duties is not inclusive of all duties associated with this position. The Lead MSA monitors and makes work assignments for lower graded positions, provides input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow. Assignments at this level include, assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility, conducting ongoing reviews to ensure a quality work product, orientating and providing on the job training for new and current employees, and an active liaison between staff and Supervisory MSA in order to resolve any day-to-day conflicts. The Lead MSA coaches and mentors' employees on all aspects of the functions of the position. Serves as subject matter expert and support the management information components of all care in the community related programs. The incumbent will be assigned work and/or receive training with the objective of acquiring the qualifications needed to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of a Lead MSA. Incumbent performs a variety of administrative functions associated with patient care and treatment for Care in the Community services which include inpatient, outpatient, and/or NIC (Non-Institutionalized Care) program services. Employee must acquire knowledge of internal organizational procedures, knowledge of various facility services, multiple computer software systems, VA acronyms and abbreviations. Incumbent creates and issues authorizations for approved care, assists with vendor location when needed, and resolves barriers to obtain care in the community to avoid patient care delay. Incumbent coordinates with the Care in the Community team to review consult utilization by using various reports and communication methods to effectively support the needs of the team. Incumbent coordinates sending, receiving, and routing medical records from community vendors as needed by verifying services utilized by specialty and date of service. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the proper disposition of Care in the Community consults assigned by making comments as appropriate and placing the consultation in the proper status. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: Ad-Hoc at supervisors discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Lead Medical Support Assistant, GS-7 (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the [GS-6] grade level. (b) Assignment. The Lead MSA [is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. The Lead MSA is responsible for daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; and determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the unit with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; and acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.] 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. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate [all of] the KSAs below: i. [Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. ii. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.] [iii.] Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines. iv. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect [and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff]. [v.] Ability to provide staff development and training. [vi.] Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics. References: A Handbook 5005/117 Part II Appendix G45 Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards. Preferred Experience: Experience training employees. At least (1) one year experience working in community care. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and requires incumbent to utilize a personal computer resulting in a large amount of keyboarding/data entry. Faxing clinical documentation to the outside providers/vendors at their request during the scheduling/approving process for Fee Basis care. Additionally, lifting and carrying items such as medical records, paperwork, folders and will be required to do tasks that require some fine manipulation skills/abilities. May be required to work many hours at a computer terminal.

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 WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Monica Busanet
• Email: [email protected]