The Advanced MSA will work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. They work with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports, ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and make any necessary adjustments. They develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies.

Duties

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant position is located at The VA Caribbean Healthcare System consists of the main medical center located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with satellite clinics located in Ponce, southern part of the Island, and Mayagüez, the western coast. There are Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in St. Thomas and in St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands), Arecibo (northwest Puerto Rico), and Guayama (southeast Puerto Rico), Arecibo, Vieques, Comerio, and Utuado. The tours of duty will be established based on demand of the work area. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant is expected to present to work in a professional and timely manner in accordance with established tour of duty. The main work location for this announcement will be for Saint Thomas Community Care Clinic.

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. AMSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5).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). Preferred Experience: (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). (b) Assignment. The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.e., patient aligned care team, or other specialty care setting where the patient aligned care team model is used such as oncology, HIV, SCI, Military Sexual Trauma, etc.). The Advanced MSA coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary), ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and make any necessary adjustments. They develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team; notify patients of normal lab results; develop and manage a tracking system for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.). Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; may work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic record; monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work); managing electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performing administrative follow up actions; participating in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care; evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested; educating providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community) and bringing to the attention of the provider. 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 the KSAs below: 1. Ability to collaborate, communicate, set priorities, and organize the work in order to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. 2. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels. 3. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care. 4. Advanced knowledge of managing a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment. 5. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow, patient care, and the revenue process. 6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. References: VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II-G45, MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT, dated June 7,2012. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. References: VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II-G45, MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT, dated June 7,2012. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The employee's work is mostly sedentary; however, some walking; standing, and carrying light items are required. Light filing, sometimes involving working close to the floor, is involved.

Education

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-06 GRADE LEVEL

Contacts

• Address San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Janet Agront
• Phone: 813-8167155 X100159
• Email: [email protected]