This Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position is in the Nursing Operations Service of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Duties

The Medical Support Assistant works at a two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS} at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Little Rock, working at one of the locations for the two divisions (Little Rock Division or North Little Rock Division) but is required to work at either location as necessary. The duties of the Medical Support Assistant may include but are not limited to: Initiating and carrying out a variety of clerical duties associated with patient care and treatment. Making routine administrative decisions and gives advice to the clinical team members in administrative functions of the ward unit and Department of Veterans Affairs policies. Interpreting a wide variety of provider orders for inpatient and outpatients to include requests for diagnostic tests, medications, treatment activities, etc; transfers that request to forms and/or enters data into VistA; routes to appropriate departments for action; and follows through to effect timely receipt of results. Extracting documents for clinic visits; checks in/out clinic visit; issues meal tickets. Verifying provider orders and forward requests in a timely manner to ensure proper instructions. Verifying medications and/or treatments are provided for the patient/resident. Updating Pharmacy Service informed of patient movements, i.e. discharge, transfers, etc. Setting up suspense files necessary for processing orders for recurring tests. Completing computer entry for removing patients from seriously ill status. Completing requests for blood transfusion. Completing requests for forms for release of medical information from other medical facilities. Making proper notification in death cases. Maintaining patient clinical records from admission to discharge or transfer. Assembling record upon reception and discharge of patient. Filing clinical material in correct sequential and chronological order. Checking contents for incomplete data before final clearance of records. Forwarding laboratory and other reports to wards in case of transfer or to Record File Room if discharged. Entering changes in the location of medical record utilizing the Medical Record Tracking System in VistA. Scheduling and notifying Nursing personnel of patient appointments with various clinics and Services throughout the medical center. Arranging appointments for special studies or treatment at other facilities by contacting the Transfer Clerk. Preparing records to accompany patients, if indicated, and ensuring all pertinent data is included before releasing records for appointments. Coordinating return appointments for follow-up outpatient treatment. Recording telephone messages and recognizes and refers urgent messages to the clinical staff for immediate action. Sorting and distributing mail. Serving as the point of contact for the ward. Assisting patients by contacting volunteers or Social Workers as needed, and Veteran representatives as requested. Maintaining census information of patients through the computer terminal. Discharging and transferring of patients to and from the unit are entered into VistA timely; compiles reports as needed. Assisting in orienting new physicians, residents, interns, nurses and nursing students to such things as patient location, patient files, computer capabilities and entry, formats for ordering medical tests, discharge summary dictation instructions and requirements for completion of records to the Record File Room. Completing forms/processes when patients transfer between divisions, services or levels of care. Inventorying and requisitioning stock of supplies and forms for the ward. Works with AOD and/or Admissions to distribute and/or deposit cash to/from patients as required. Entering work orders. Maintaining good communications skills and a positive attitude with supervisor, professional staff, patient/resident and their family, and other medical center personnel and peers. Communicating daily and frequently in a positive manner with numerous visitors, colleagues and other customers, both internal and external. Performing extended shift work on a rotating basis to assist clinical staff with administrative procedures during other normal tours of duty. Work Schedule: Hours may vary with rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. Will be discussed during interview Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-00400-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for each grade level. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. GS-05: (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level. OR, (b) Education. Four years of education above high school. Transcript must be submitted. (c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for MSAs. At this level, the MSA independently performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes. The MSA is responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA scheduling guidelines. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; 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.). (d) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Preferred Experience: Excellent computer skills **Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.** References: VA Handbook 5005/117 Part II, Appendix G45 VA Qualification Standard for Medical Support Assistant, GS-0679. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05 Physical Requirements: Work requires some walking, standing, and bending, although it is considered primarily sedentary. Periods of sitting may be required for typing, data entry and monitoring of the patient safety monitoring system. Walking to various locations of the medical center with records of patients, consultations, supplies, etc. is necessary. Production of a large volume of work on one or more units and the ability to adjust to constantly changing situations is required.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

Contacts

• Address John L McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital 4300 West Seventh Street Little Rock, AR 72205 US
• Name: Joshua Bullock
• Phone: 4792366362
• Email: [email protected]