This Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position is in the Medical Administration Service of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System in Biloxi, MS. Position(s) are physically located at the JACC located in Pensacola, FL and the Panama City CBOC located in Panama City Beach, FL. Select all locations you are willing to consider. Once selected for a specific location as indicated in your application, changes in assigned location after selection will not be considered.

Duties

Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf The Advanced Medical Support Assistant assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), a Specialty Care Clinic or a Mental Health Clinic provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. The primary duties of the AMSA may include but are not limited to: Uses specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics or specialties and/or care in the community resources. Coordinates with the with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability and utilization to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics. Develops and maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and other agencies. Participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; sets priorities and deadlines. Adjusts the flow and sequence of the work to meet team and patient needs. Identifies incomplete encounters and communicate findings to clinical team members. Works with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and enters appropriate information into the electronic record. Monitors pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work). Manage consult requests. Recall reminders, VA Online Scheduling requests, secure messaging, and Electronic Wait Lists to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues. Participates and provides input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings. Performs administrative follow up actions. Participates in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care. Evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested. Educates 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 clinical team. Registers new patients for care when necessary to facilitate same day appointment scheduling. Updates patient demographic data, collecting insurance information, and negotiating appointments during check-out Schedules follow-up/ consult appointments. Contacts patients that fail to appear for scheduled appointments. Interprets and communicates requirements of national and local scheduling directives, policies, and procedures and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities. Schedules all appointments in a timely manner. Sets priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and Veteran needs. Communicates tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing with internal and external customers. Maintain scheduling training compliance and complete all required training within established time frames. Work Schedule: To be determined by supervisor; Typically Monday - Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 520-00133-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) 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. 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. To qualify for the GS-06 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06 (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your resume that you have experience that includes: Entering, modifying, retrieving sensitive information into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports; Scheduling medical appointments in a clinical setting; Performing patient support work; Providing customer service and identifying patient concerns to ensure satisfactory resolution; Advanced level of medical terminology. (b) Assignment. The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics, and makes adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.). (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, you must demonstrate ALL of the following KSAs in your resume: 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. Preferred Experience: Internal and external customer service experience. Solid knowledge of multiple electronic systems and current computer technology regarding scheduling applications i.e. VistA, VSE, CPRS, Consult Toolbox, ICB, Orders Viewer, Microsoft Office Suite applications **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-06 Physical Requirements: May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

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 Biloxi VA Medical Center 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi, MS 39531 US
• Name: Cynthia McLeod
• Phone: (757) 749-4965
• Email: [email protected]