Job opening: LEAD MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT (WARDS)
Salary: $63 511 - 82 567 per year
Published at: Mar 01 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To lead and perform a variety of administrative and clerical duties associated with determining eligibility, receiving, admitting and discharging patients, the processing of a Compensation and Pension (C&P) claims, the processing of Patient funds and Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement in support of veterans' treatment in outpatient clinics and inpatient care units at these facilities.
Duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) is responsible for a leadership role in providing comprehensive, detailed, on-the-job training to all staff in the clinics and administrative sections of MAS, provide evaluation information of personnel and work areas to establish adequate coverage. LMSA acts as contact person between the MAS Supervisors and Clinical and/or Administrative Staff of the facility. Keeps supervisor advised of staff evaluation information, staffing shortages, and deficiencies or non-compliance regarding performance of Medical Support Assistants (MSA) and Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA). Responsible for coordination of administrative functions associated with the care and treatment of patients in the inpatient and outpatient clinic areas, eligibility, travel, call center, and compensation and pension sections. LMSA performs a range of duties that exemplify the full-performance level, which include responsibility for interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with the current VHA National Scheduling Directive guidelines. Daily use of Kiosk reviewing, VetLink, Veteran Scheduling Enhancement (VSE) and/or Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) software packages. At this level the LMSA coordinates activities within the area to include consult referrals to other services, lab, x-ray, other special studies, prints and provides unverified (A/D/T) orders or open request, and monitors completion of orders, verifies patient demographic information to include address, telephone number and next of kin (NOK) information. Clinic activities also include scheduling, rescheduling, no-shows, review Encounter report for completions/corrections, monitor of electronic wait list, consult scheduling, cancellation and resolution. Possess the working knowledge and understanding of the guidelines associated with the Electronic Wait List (EWL) in Vista Appointment Management Menu. Informs patients about My HealtheVet in-Person Authentication and direct patients to areas associated with the program to be registered. Resolves informal complaints and responds to request for non-technical information on such subjects as status of reports/laboratory work, suspense dates, hours of operation, how to complete various medical forms, etc. Ensure encounters are properly addressed and closed within their scope in order to obtain appropriate workload credit. Reviews VSE open request, appointments or consults, for closure. Completes clinic closeout- no actions taken and incomplete check-ins during daily reviews.
Request, retrieve and scan insurance card and updates patient insurance information via insurance buffer software (ICB-NTX- live) program during check -in or check out process. If insurance buffer is inoperable information will be entered using the pre-registration menu (ICB and insurance pre-registration entries are considered separate requirements). Verify, update, and confirms patient complete home address, home, cellular, and work telephone, insurance information, emergency contact and employer information in Vista- pre registration menu when patient's check-in for their scheduled or unscheduled appointment. LMSA performs pre-registration via telephone during pre-appointment and pre-registration calls. Ensure proper identification of patients by requesting identifiers such as date of birth, full social security number and/or next of kin. Verify and submits information into Vista beneficial travel package to ensure patients are eligible and compensated for mileage according to VHA travel directive. Prepares and provides patient with travel voucher during the check-out process.
Work Schedule: 3:30pm - Midnight; Off days- Thursdays and Fridays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
Experience and Education.
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
Education. One year above high school;
OR
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).
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:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
Preferred Experience:
1 year experience with scheduling appointments
1 year experience with Vista patient movements
1 year of experience with the inpatient provider on-call system
Ability to multi-task
Excellent customer service skills
Grade Determinations: One year of experience at the GS-06 grade level (There is no education substitution at this grade)
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.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) In addition to meeting the requirements listed above, candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's:
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.
Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
Ability to provide staff development and training.
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: VA Handbook 5005/117 Part II Appendix G45 Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary (up to 6 hours), requires walking (up to fours), bending (occasional), standing (up to 1 hour) and/or pushing cart with office supplies, lifting up to 5 pounds at a time such as a case of copier paper, Use of fingers, both hands required, talking on the telephone using telephone headset. The work does not require any special physical effort or ability.
Education
There is no education substitution at this grade level.
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/.
Contacts
- Address Dallas VA Medical Center
4500 South Lancaster Road
Dallas, TX 75216
US
- Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
- Email: [email protected]
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