Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System is seeking a two (1) highly energetic candidate to fill the Medical Support Assistant in our Outpatient Clinic at the Sepulveda CBOC 16111 Plummer Street North Hills CA 91343. The ideal candidate must be skilled in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns and ensure overall customer satisfaction and resolution. In addition, candidate must possess the ability to operate computer programs, and scheduling of appointments.

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in a clinical team based model in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The work includes functions such as serving as an initial point of contact for the outpatient clinics, and patients, to include, but not limited to, scheduling patient appointments, tracking, reviewing, and responding to electronic orders, consults, and other elements in the electronic medical record and medical systems. This series includes work that requires a practical knowledge of computerized data entry, information processing systems and software related to patient care, the healthcare system's organization and services, basic rules and regulations governing visitors and patient treatment, knowledge of standard procedures, utilizing medical records, and medical terminology. The team works collaboratively with other members of an expanded healthcare primary care team including pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, behavioral health staff, to provide a robust interdisciplinary approach to care. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Coordinate information and actions related to patient care and services Scheduling patient appointments for treatment in accordance with VHA national directives and local standard operating procedures Answering multiline phone systems and retrieving voicemails to determine appropriate actions Interviewing patients for appointments Referring patients to other medical specialty clinics as required Providing information to patients necessary to resolve complaints Interacting with customers, in-person, over the phone and through correspondence both written and electronically through various systems Reviewing and documenting medical electronic health records and administrative records Verifying and updating demographics and third party insurance information Providing excellent customer service Participate in Team huddles and meetings Assist with coverage for other respective clinics Advise clinical staff on current administrative processes Assist with training to clinic specific requirements when needed Run administrative reports for the clinical team and take appropriate action (consults, no shows) Coordinates emergency transfers to other VA hospitals or private hospitals and determine eligibility status Work independently with minimal supervision Coordinates the release of information to various organizations in support of direct patient care needs Work rotated weekends and holidays throughout the year as needed Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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. 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. Two years 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. Customer Service Must have at least six months of customer service experience in a position that required daily direct customer interactions. Meets the needs of the Veteran customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the Veteran with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. 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). 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). 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 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). (2) 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in paragraph 3 above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Medical Support Assistant, GS-5 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level OR, Education. Two years of education above high school AND, Must also meet all KSA's: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. (b) Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. (c) Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and p