Medical Support Assistant - Diagnostic Imaging

Veterans Health Administration • Temple, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in VA Central Texas Health Care System, Diagnostic Imaging Service and serves Austin, Temple, and Waco, TX. The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information. The Medical Support Assistant receives guidance from more experienced staff members and requires frequent and direct supervision. They apply general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients. The role utilizes a variety of patient data systems in scheduling patients for treatment and annotates patient records. They perform front desk duties, receive telephone calls, and greet visitors to the Medical Support Assistant unit. Responsibilities include scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatment, interviewing patients for appointments, and referring patients to other medical specialty clinics. The incumbent reviews and documents medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records, as well as administrative records, verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system. They obtain medical information from patients, coordinate information and actions related to patient care and services, and schedule appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. The role advises clinical staff on current administrative processes. They schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and/or consults, enter no-show information, monitor appointment requests from multiple electronic sources, and participate in huddles with other Medical Support Assistants and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinics. Verification and updating of demographics and insurance information occurs when patients check-in for appointments.

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients.
• Ability to use, and navigate between, various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e. computer systems, web based scheduling programs; insurance collection system; scanning software, multiple line phone systems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care.
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
• Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.
• Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.
• Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of CTVHCS two weeks scheduler training preferred
• Experience scheduling exams
• Knowledge of Imaging Service preferred
• Experience managing a reception desk and phone calls

Responsibilities

• Perform duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information.
• Apply general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients.
• Utilize a variety of patient data systems in scheduling patients for treatment and annotates patient records.
• Perform front desk duties, receives telephone call, and visitors to the Medical Support Assistant unit.
• Schedule and reschedule patients for treatment; interviewing patients for appointments; referring patients to other medical specialty clinics.
• Review and document medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records, as well as administrative records.
• Verify third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system.
• Obtain medical information from patients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services.
• Schedule appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Advise clinical staff on current administrative processes.
• Schedule, cancel, re-schedule patient appointments and/or consults.
• Enter no show information.
• Monitor appointment requests from multiple electronic sources.
• Participate in huddles with other Medical Support Assistants and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinics.
• Verify and update demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 .
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• 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
• Education Level: High school or GED