Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Castle Point, NY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Castle Point NY VAMC is seeking an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to join its Health Administration team. The role coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic utilization using reports such as the Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary, monitor clinic setup, and make adjustments to support clinic needs.

The Advanced MSA maintains effective communication with patients and caregivers, interdisciplinary teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies. This includes supporting inpatient-to-outpatient discharge communications, communicating with non-VA medical facilities, processing secure messages, notifying patients of normal laboratory results, and tracking follow-up care such as consultations and tests. The position also supports patient-care planning, appointment readiness, operational problem-solving, and continuity of care. It uses multiple computer applications and requires knowledge of administrative procedures for records, forms, information security and exchange, reports and data, appointment scheduling, telephone care, and customer service. Rotational coverage may be assigned among areas within the facility.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or state- or territorial-level proficiency certificate.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process, including scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated-care and/or community-care models and patient health care portals, as related to access to care.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary coordinated-care and/or community-care operations affecting patient flow and administrative support functions, including appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, and provider availability.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines to accomplish team goals and ensure patient care needs are met.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines while complying with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively with internal and external customers electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing; this may include preparing reports, presenting data, and resolving patient concerns.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must meet background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process and required application documents.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.

Nice To Haves

• One year of scheduling experience.

Responsibilities

• Review clinic utilization with the patient care team using reports such as the Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary.
• Monitor clinic setup and make adjustments to effectively support clinic needs.
• Communicate with patients and caregivers, interdisciplinary teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies.
• Assist with communications during inpatient-to-outpatient discharge and communicate with non-VA medical facilities.
• Facilitate and process secure messaging between patients and care teams; notify patients of normal laboratory results.
• Develop and manage tracking systems for follow-up care, including consultations and tests.
• Participate in team huddles and meetings to manage and plan patient care.
• Set priorities and deadlines and adjust the flow and sequencing of work to meet team and patient needs.
• Work with the team to reinforce plans of care and self-help solutions and enter appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Monitor pre-appointment requirements to ensure readiness for patient visits and procedures, such as X-rays and laboratory work.
• Participate in team problem-solving on operational issues and procedures and perform administrative follow-up actions.
• Independently follow up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to support continuity of care.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patients are vested.
• Educate providers about shared patients who receive care at multiple VAs or in the community, and bring relevant information to providers' attention.
• Provide rotational coverage as assigned among areas within the facility.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income, child eligibility, and program limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED