The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an AMSA assigned to outpatient clinics. The AMSA position is a fundamental role within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Patient Centered Medical Home Model Transformation Initiative. The team works collaboratively with other members of an expanded health care primary care team including pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, behavioral health staff, etc. to provide a robust interdisciplinary approach to care.
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. 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. Certification. None required. English Language Proficiency. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j. 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: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-0679-06: Experience. One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. 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.). 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 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: Ability to work independently to accomplish a wide variety of duties, including setting and leading priorities, coordinating tasks, training and organizing workflow. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels. Ability to gather and trend data to determine efficiency of internal processes. Ability to operate computerized programs and databases to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information/data into or from electronic medical records, scheduling systems and/or reports. Excel most importantly. Independently utilizes reference sources, decision making, and lead team work to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment. Ability to identify customer's concerns, perform the tasks required to resolve the issue accurately and timely, and follow-up as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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. Physical Requirements: "The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds."
Major duties include, but are not limited to: Incumbent will be the first line of contact with the Veteran and must be knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects regarding the VA. They must, always, remain friendly and courteous, regardless of the patient's or visitor's attitude or behavior. The incumbent is responsible for running the Encounter Action Required Report (EARR) and providing findings to providers to facilitate accurate workload credit and revenue collection. Incumbent promotes Veteran registration for and utilization of My HealtheVet (MHV), an online personal health record for Veterans. Performs in-person authentication (IPA) for Veterans requesting initial access to individually identifiable health information within the MHV web-based application. The AMSA is responsible for receiving and routing all Veterans who report to the facilities for scheduled and unscheduled examinations and appointments. Ensures that the patients are electronically checked in for their appointments. Responsible for printing the medication reconciliation program, routing slips and confirming with the patient that pre-registration is completed including demographic and insurance information. This must be done promptly so the date/time stamp is accurate for each date of visit. If the information is not correct, incumbent is responsible for updating all pertinent information using the Pre- Registration Menu in VistA or VET LINK. Provides guidance, directions, and instructions to Veterans in relation to their appointments. Schedules appointment with patient input to reduce no shows. This is a critical step to meet "Missed Opportunities" and other medical center performance measures such as "access to care". Continually works with the providers and nursing staff to change appointments when clinically indicated, carefully following medical center, and VHA directives regarding this process. Incumbent is responsible for verifying and completing all orders that he/she transcribes. Incumbent has the ability to overbook patients within set guidelines and refers others to the appropriate person to authorize additional overbooks to the clinic. Incumbent is responsible for processing first party requests and ensuring forms are complete and accurate. Receives outside correspondence (fax, letters, etc.) from outside agencies requesting provider's actions for patient care and forwards to the appropriate agency for action. Responsible for ensuring non-VA records are forwarded to the appropriate provider for review and forward to the appropriate agency prior to inclusion into the patient's medical record. Scans and indexes materials accordingly into CPRS VistA Imaging, on a timely basis and within established guidelines, and makes the proper disposition of documents. After the scanning and indexing process is complete, the incumbent will review the quality of scanned documents to ensure integrity of scanned images. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8am-4:30pm or 8:30am-5pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized