Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Veterans Health Administration • Cambridge, MD

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The National CARDIO-VET Network has one vacancy for an Advanced Medical Support Assistant at the Cambridge VA Clinic in Cambridge, Maryland, part of the VA Baltimore Health Care System. The position provides day-to-day administrative support to cardiology clinics within the CARDIO-VET Network, helping clinical staff deliver quality patient care and meet team objectives. The Advanced MSA works within an interdisciplinary coordinated care model and supports clinic operations, patient access, communication, scheduling, records, and administrative follow-up.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. The work is mostly sedentary and involves sustained concentration, with some walking, standing, bending, and carrying light objects. It may also involve stooping, reaching, lifting, pulling, moderate exertion, or walking some distance to meetings.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizen appointment is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• High school diploma, GED, or state/territorial proficiency certificate.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade for the GS-06 Advanced MSA grade determination.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including scheduling across interdisciplinary care models and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary coordinated care operations affecting patient flow and administrative support, 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 support team goals and patient care.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines and comply with 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and a background/security investigation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application steps, including an online assessment and onboarding requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Must meet applicable physical requirements; the work is mostly sedentary but includes periods of concentration and some walking, standing, bending, carrying light objects, and potentially moderate exertion.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with the patient care team to review clinic utilization reports, monitor clinic setup, and make adjustments to support clinic needs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on FED Traveler rules and regulations and assist clinicians with travel requests.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, the interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies, including supporting inpatient-to-outpatient transitions, communicating with non-VA facilities, facilitating secure messaging, notifying patients of normal lab results, and tracking follow-up care.
• Participate in team meetings to plan and manage patient care; set priorities and deadlines; and adjust work flow and sequencing to meet team and patient needs.
• Help reinforce care plans and self-help solutions, enter information into the electronic record, and monitor pre-appointment requirements.
• Manage the electronic wait list by verifying and validating accuracy and resolving issues.
• Provide input on operational problems and procedures in team meetings and complete administrative follow-up actions.
• Follow up on team meetings, share information, and collaborate with the medical team to support continuity of care.
• Review patient information and clinic schedules to determine whether patients are vested; inform providers about shared patients receiving care at multiple VA locations or in the community.
• Greet veterans, help put them at ease, and provide assistance and directions as needed.
• Ensure registration and insurance card information are entered into the computer.
• Process Release of Information requests promptly in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
• Schedule follow-up appointments and consultations in the computer in accordance with ACA principles and arrange patient travel in a timely manner.
• Maintain supply inventory and, if assigned, use a Purchase Card.
• Take minutes of meetings and, if assigned, serve as Unit timekeeper.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry in VISTA.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Selected applicants may qualify to receive service credit for prior work or military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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