Medical Support Assistant; Advanced

Overview

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for Medical Support Assistant (Advanced). The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) will function within the Community Outpatient Services.

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant:
  Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional; schedules patient appointments; coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic utilization and ensure clinic setup supports the needs of the clinic; provides necessary recommendations to ensure compliance or corrective actions and appropriate access.
• Maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during inpatient to outpatient discharge).
• Communicates with non-VA medical facilities; facilitates/processes secure messaging with the patient and team; notifies patients of appointments.
• Manages a tracking system for follow-up care such as Return to Clinic Orders, recalls, tests, etc.
• Participates in team huddles and meetings to manage and plan patient care; sets priorities and deadlines, adjusts workflow to meet team and patient needs.
• Reinforces the plan of care and self-help solutions; enters appropriate information into the electronic record; monitors pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work).
• Manages electronic wait lists to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether a patient requires an immediate appointment.
• Educates providers about shared patients and coordinates with other VAs or community care when applicable; plans and organizes work with general supervision to meet local and VA-wide time frames.
• Responsible for reporting backlogs and difficulties in meeting deadlines; maintains confidentiality of information; communicates with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professionals with sound interpersonal skills.
• Works independently following guidelines and regulations; minimal supervision required.
• Work Schedule:
  
  Monday - Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

• 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 indicating ability to perform duties
• OR (2) Education – One year above high school
• OR (3) Experience/Education Combination – Equivalent combination of experience and education
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees in this occupation)
• Grade Determinations:
  Candidates at this grade must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 level
• Examples of experience include: provides specialized and expert administrative patient support within an interdisciplinary, coordinated care delivery model; workload involves administrative judgment and flexible use of clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and community resources; recommends changes to clinic procedures; utilizes several advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics; coordinates with patient care team to review clinic appointment availability and utilization and ensure appropriate access
• Team coordination and communication with patient care teams and external facilities
• Preference:
  At least 2 years of scheduling patients in a clinical environment
• Full performance level: GS-06

• The work is mostly sedentary; may require sitting for long periods
• Occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying light objects
• Stooping, reaching, lifting, pulling, and other moderate exertion
• Occasional long distances walked for meetings

• Location:
  
  VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10)
• This position is aligned with a Whole Health System of care
• Mission alignment: to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care
• This is not a virtual position;
  Telework not available