This position is within the Operations Section of the Medical Administration Service (MAS). The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care environment, having primary responsibility and accountability for the performance of administrative duties associated with patient enrollment and registration, admissions, outpatient scheduling, beneficiary travel, means testing, capture of insurance information, and other administrative duties.

Duties

Duties: The AMSA is able to independently manage position responsibilities with minimal supervision, as well as set priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs. The AMSA functions as an expert authority for all tasks associated with patient enrollment and registration, admissions, outpatient scheduling, beneficiary travel, and identification and capture of insurance information. The AMSA receives and processes applicants for both inpatient and outpatient treatment, registers new patients with VHA, makes/assists the determination as to the patient's eligibility for medical benefits to include counseling patients, their families, and agency employees on entitlement to benefits The AMSA processes Veteran Identification Cards (VIC), as needed. He/she must use all photography equipment, hardware, and software required to complete the process of producing a VIC. The AMSA performs administrative duties associated with the admission process. He/she completes all forms for admission and advises the Veteran of issues concerning safekeeping of valuables, personal funds, clothing, patient rights, and provides patients with information about advance directives. Admissions are entered into VHA systems accurately and timely, to include diagnoses, bed/ward section, and provider/attending. The AMSA may perform duties associated with the discharge and transfer process ensuring all necessary data is entered into the system. The AMSA has primary responsibility and accountability for all scheduling functions. This includes making, changing, and canceling patient appointments In accordance with clinic profiles and special instructions, as well as all applicable VHA regulations governing the scheduling process. The AMSA is responsible for receiving and routing all Veterans who report to the facility for scheduled and unscheduled examinations and appointments, assuring that the patients are electronically checked in for their appointments. The AMSA is responsible for explaining in detail to Veterans about upcoming appointments, ensuring they understand what they must do and where they must go to complete their work-up. When applicable, the MSA ensures the patient is scheduled for a return visit in accordance with orders from the provider. The AMSA must be able to interpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities that include scheduling appointments and utilizing the Electronic Waiting List accurately and in a timely manner. The AMSA receives telephone calls and face-to-face inquiries from patients, families and friends of patients regarding scheduling appointments or requests for changes in scheduled appointments. The AMSA is responsible for administrative data capture by using the most efficient method of checking in/out all patient encounters. This process could involve the use of multiple software packages. Duties may also include monitoring pre-appointment requirements to ensure readiness for the patient visit; managing electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and solve issues; performing administrative follow-up actions; evaluating patient information and clinic schedule list. The AMSA interprets VA Beneficiary Travel regulations to determine travel eligibility and entitlement. he MSA may also be responsible for fund control point (FCP) management for beneficiary travel. He/she estimates, computes, and verifies costs of transportation in order that funds are properly encumbered to permit subsequent reimbursement to the traveler. The AMSA is responsible for scheduling and arranging transportation for both inpatients and outpatient by contract, station vehicle, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) vehicles as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm or Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4pm. Telework: Available for some positions - will be discussed at the interview. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.). 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. 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. 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. e. 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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-6 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of 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. Physical Requirements. VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/117, Part II, Appendix G45, dated 8/1/2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

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 VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Padmini Elayath
• Phone: 6123697619
• Email: [email protected]