Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Reno, NV

31d•Onsite

About The Position

The position serves as a Medical Support Assistant in Health Administration Service at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System, Reno, Nevada. The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information. The incumbent will interface with personal computer (PC) applications as well as numerous Vista applications. The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.e., patient aligned care team). The Advanced MSA coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary). Higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) 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. Plans and organizes work with general assistance from the supervisor as to meet local and VA-wide time frames to complete analysis requirements, reports and special assignments and only refers to the non-routine and high technical problems to their supervisor. Responsible for reporting backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians, or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the record. Is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties. Routinely communicates with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information. Works independently making decisions based on guidelines, precedents and regulations and performs duties in such a manner that only minimal supervision is required Other duties as assigned by management.

Responsibilities

Develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies.
Assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge.
Communicate with non-VA medical facilities.
Facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team.
Notify patients of normal lab results.
Develop and manage a tracking system for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.
Participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care;.
Scheduling patient appointments.
Setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs.
May work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic record.
Monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work).
Managing electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues.
Participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performing administrative follow up actions.
Participating in and independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care.
Evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested.
Educating providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community) and bringing to the attention of the provider.