Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)
: Job Details :

Summary The incumbent serves as an Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) in the Health Administrative Service at the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System in El Paso, Texas. The work impacts the administrative aspect of patient care, including: access, scheduling/coordinating appointments using advanced clinic access principles, collecting, and updating demographic and insurance information, managing the Electronic Waiting List (EWL), patient processing and customer service. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and performs receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics. The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) is responsible for: assisting with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates as well as shifting patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and/or coverage occurs; screening/receiving phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determining the nature of requests and providing the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes; independently managing position responsibilities with little supervision as well as setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; participating in the daily teamlet huddles and weekly team meetings where patient care planning and management occur; daily review of active/pending consults, RTC, VAOS, Opened Encounters, run 30, 60, 90 day report, and Audio care communications for accuracy and disposition; coordinating administrative services for veterans, family members, caregivers, and public with administrative and clinical staff to ensure continuity of care; ensuring all necessary information is integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending records received to scanning; developing and maintaining effective working relationships with clinical and administrative staff in determining priorities of activities in support of direct patient care; interpreting and applying a complex body of pertinent laws, regulations, directives, and policies relating to the administration of VA Healthcare Benefits. Will review frequent changes to VHA directives, regulations and local policies to maintain constant coordination ensuring compliance and standardization associated with Advanced Clinic Access principles. Required to conduct special audits, studies, or surveys to use in development of procedures, and to assist employees in collecting complete and appropriate data for reporting processes and for generating revenue; distributing and balancing the workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization, assuring timely completion. Generates patient workload reports for validation and monitors activity in clinical areas to assure consistent and accurate reporting; assuming the role of Program Support Assistant (Care Facilitator) or Medical Support Assistant (MSA) during special projects or heavy workload, for leave, vacancies, or when the Program Support Assistants (Care Facilitators) are detailed to fill-in other areas; completing personnel reports, rosters, and maintaining supplies and forms. Organizes and implements quality assurance monitors; prepares a wide variety of administrative reports and documents for supervisor and Health Administration Service; conducting patient/employee surveys, interviews, observing workflow; guiding patients through hospital system; inputting medication refills for provider approval, documenting complaints, and providing follow-up and suggests resolutions to supervisor; interpreting and communicating requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives. Schedules appointments and uses the EWL and VCL accurately in a timely manner. This may require a high level of coordination to minimize patient trips to the medical center or clinic when possible; additional duties or tasks as assigned by supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:45 pm Telework: Available (ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 This is a bargaining unit position. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details. 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. 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 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. 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. 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: Knowledge of MSA Practices: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting. Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting] at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and a range of varieties as described in this standard, at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) GS-6 Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, one year of experience equivalent to the [GS-5] grade level. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: performing a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting; advising clinical staff on current administrative processes; answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines; scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic. 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 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: Customer service with experience in de-escalation, problem solving, decision making and good tactful communication skills orally and in writing; Scheduling/rescheduling in a clinical setting including experience reading and verifying provider's orders, consults, imaging requests and laboratory orders; Experience with workload reports and data collection (MS Excel) to include meeting deadlines, set priorities and organize the work; Demographics verify and update along with third party insurance capture including providing proper information to patients and family members Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. 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. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. 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: 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: Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.