Medical Assistant Jobs in Santa Cruz, AZ

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or state/territorial proficiency certificate.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level for the GS-06 Advanced MSA qualification.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including scheduling across coordinated-care models and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures affecting patient flow and administrative patient 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 accomplish team goals and meet patient-care needs.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines while complying with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing with internal and external customers; this may include preparing reports, presenting data, and resolving patient concerns.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete required application and onboarding steps.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• May need to stand, lift, carry, sit, stoop, bend, pull, and push; may be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing.

Nice To Haves

• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the described grandfathering provision if they meet its criteria.
• Prior work experience or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with patients, interdisciplinary teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies.
• Manage follow-up care systems for consults, tests, and other patient-care needs.
• Process incoming patient secure messages through My HealtheVet and coordinate with the care team as appropriate.
• Participate in team huddles and meetings to manage, plan, problem-solve, and follow up on patient care.
• Set priorities and deadlines and adjust work flow and sequencing to meet team and patient needs.
• Identify incomplete encounters and communicate findings to providers as needed.
• Assist the team in reinforcing the plan of care and self-help solutions.
• Enter appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Monitor pre-appointment information and requirements to ensure readiness for patient visits or procedures.
• Ensure accurate and current insurance information is captured.
• Manage patient systems to verify and validate information and resolve issues.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patients need immediate appointments.
• Inform team members about shared patients receiving care at multiple VA centers or in the community.
• Schedule, reschedule, cancel, record no-shows, and add appointments using VSE software.
• Coordinate clinic appointment availability and monitor utilization to support clinic needs.
• Recommend changes to clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.