Medical Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs • Sioux Falls, SD

47d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is responsible for accurate consult management (including scheduling and documentation in the Consult Toolbox (CTB)) and the coordination of all administrative information between the professional staff, Veteran, community vendor, and Third-Party Administrator (TPA). The MSA performs clerical and administrative support in the care collaboration, and treatment provided to Veterans throughout the CC and Congressional mandated processes. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Responsibilities

• Independently performs a full range of duties related to delivering healthcare services in an outpatient setting.
• Responsible for answering phones, greeting Veterans, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside the unit, scheduling appointments per VHA national scheduling guidelines and CC processes. Assignments include, but are not limited to; scheduling, canceling, rescheduling Veteran appointments and consults; entering no show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or VA CC staff to determine the daily needs of the team, monitoring outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility when Veterans opt-in for CC.
• Serves in the CC customer service line, either scheduling for the call center or following Veteran scheduling needs. MSA ensures the integrity of various databases and data used in the management of administrative and customer service within the department.
• Understands and appropriately utilizes the administrative support packages, including but not limited to; Computerized Veteran Record System (CPRS), REFDOCS, Release of Information (ROI), VA Online Scheduling (VAOS), Vista, Provider Profile Management System (PPMS), and Health Share Referral Manager (HSRM). Assignments include but are not limited to; scheduling/rescheduling, canceling, providing reception to incoming and outgoing customers, and manual and electronic data entry.
• Responsible for scheduling appointments per the VA Scheduling Directive.
• Independently recognizes the urgency of the consults and schedules care in accordance with the Field Guidebook (FGB).
• Communicate to the Veteran pre-appointment requirements or instructions. Identify and communicate Veteran concerns or needs to be recognized during communications regarding upcoming CC appointments and referral processing.
• Utilizes consult status to support accurate records management as it moves through the approval process from CC to the Vendor.
• Collaborates, communicates, sets priorities, and organizes the work to assist the team in meeting deadlines and ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Collaborates with the VA CC RNs when a consult requires clinical guidance during the scheduling process.
• Communicates information between community providers and VA interdisciplinary team timely and clearly to facilitate timely access to care.
• Assists Veterans in rescheduling appointments in cases of missed or no-show appointments.
• Recognizes the importance of scheduling care in the correct sequence and timing when multiple CC appointments are necessary. Effectively coordinates this care when multiple vendors or agencies are involved.
• Knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. Demonstrates the ability of the specialized health care process as it relates to access to care within the VA and within CC

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees