Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Thomas, KY

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) provides administrative support to clinical staff within the Mental Health Care Line (MHCL), helping ensure administrative functions are completed accurately and on time so clinicians can focus on patient care. The role supports team objectives and efficient day-to-day operations in Mental Health Care Line outpatient and residential units. It works collaboratively within an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and coordinates administrative support for patient care, clinic utilization, and follow-up services.

The position is GS-06, with a full performance level of GS-6. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, either 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; other schedules may be available based on agency needs. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The work is primarily sedentary and involves using a computer terminal and managing multiple activities. The employee may also need to sit for extended periods, bend, walk, and lift.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or state or territorial proficiency certificate.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade for the GS-06 assignment.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including interdisciplinary scheduling, community care models, and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary care delivery and operational activities 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.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines while complying with processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively in writing, electronically, by telephone, and in person with internal and external customers.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Successful completion of required application steps, an online assessment, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical examination.
• Compliance with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Ability to perform primarily sedentary work, including sitting for varying periods, some bending, walking, and lifting, operating a computer terminal, and managing multiple activities.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model in Mental Health Care Line outpatient and residential units.
• Coordinate with the patient care team to review clinic utilization using reports such as the Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary, monitor clinic setup, and make necessary adjustments to support clinic needs.
• Admit and discharge patients to residential and inpatient units and coordinate with outside organizations to secure medical care for patients.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on FED Traveler rules and regulations and assist clinicians with travel requests.
• Communicate and coordinate with patients, interdisciplinary teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies, including supporting inpatient-to-outpatient discharge communications and communicating with non-VA medical facilities.
• Facilitate and process secure messaging between patients and the care team, notify patients of normal laboratory results, and develop and manage tracking systems for follow-up care such as consults and tests.
• Collaborate and communicate with clinicians across disciplines to support team goals and ensure patient care needs are met.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, follow established processes and regulations, and address patient concerns.
• Prepare reports in various formats and present data to different organizational levels.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type.
• Selected applicants may qualify to request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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