Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) works at the W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC, assigned to the Surgical Service. This position is supervised by the Administrative Officer of the Surgical Service. This position directly supports the Operating Room by monitoring the OR schedule and scheduling patients directly into the OR Surgery Package and Appointment Management system.

Duties

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for and exercises extreme attention to detail in order to effectively integrate and manage data being submitted into the Surgical Package and Appointment Management, designed specifically for the surgery program at the Salisbury VAMC. Reviews patient information for accuracy and manages associated OR schedule lists. Elevates any issues regarding patient care, patient scheduling, access issues or Operating Room (OR) functions to Lead OR scheduler and Service Leadership. Assist in retrieving periodic data & statistical reports and helps prepare correspondence by collecting and releasing data following a standardized approach that meets established requirements. Assist in organizing and maintaining of data and reports which conform to established standards and meet the needs of the Surgery Service as well as ancillary professional staff. Back-up/assist OR schedulers at other locations. Receives and processes incoming and outgoing correspondence, reports, and computer information. Reviews all materials in relation to need for follow-up actions and general information, in addition, establishes priorities on verbal and written communication requests. Composes and prepares correspondence and reports as well as aids in preparation and submission of necessary information, data, and/or documentation to Service Leadership. Utilizes OR block schedule to schedule OR cases correctly. Works collaboratively and constructively with Perioperative nurses(OR Staff) and Case Managers to identify and resolve scheduling concerns. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:659-1208FA Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Experience: None Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None. Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) 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. (2) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-6 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the [GS-5] grade level Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate [all of] the KSAs below: (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. (d) 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. (e) Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. (f) 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. Assignment. For all assignments above the FPL, the higher-level duties must be of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, 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. At the advanced level, the Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) (AMSA) performs difficult and responsible 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. Recommend 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.). Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate; participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage, plan, problem solve, and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers