Job Title:Advanced Medical Support Assistant (Mental Health)
Department:Department Of Veterans Affairs
Agency:Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Job Announcement Number:JT-15-BMS-1268627-BU
SALARY RANGE:
$38,542.00 to $50,100.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 to Wednesday, December 10, 2014
SERIES & GRADE:
GS-0679-06
POSITION INFORMATION:
Full Time - Excepted Service Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:
6
DUTY LOCATIONS:
2 vacancies in the following location:
Manchester, NH
Other locations:
Boston, MA
Austin, TX
Madison, WI
WHO MAY APPLY:
United States Citizens
SECURITY CLEARANCE:
Not Applicable
SUPERVISORY STATUS:
No
JOB SUMMARY:
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1268627
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
Patient Centered care is our approach to delivering healthcare to our Veterans. This philosophy gives patients and their families the chance to work closely with their healthcare providers to create more personalized care plans. Patient-centered care also considers the Veterans’ personal preferences and values, family situations, cultural traditions, and lifestyles; it keeps them informed and engaged throughout their treatment. The Veteran and family members become key members of the healthcare team and are active participants in making healthcare decisions.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
VA encourges persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
TRAVEL REQUIRED
Not Required
RELOCATION AUTHORIZED
No
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U. S. Citizenship
Must pass pre-employment examination
English Language Proficiency required
Background and-or Security Investigation required
Application for Associated Health Occupations VAF 10-2850c required.
USA JOBS resume or resume that meets criteria for federal employment
Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
DUTIES:
The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in the Mental Health Service Line at the Manchester NH VA Medical Center. The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and performs receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules. He/she must assist with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates as well as shift patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and/or coverage occurs. The incumbent must screen/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of request, and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established processes. The incumbent is able to independently manage position responsibilities with little supervision as well as set priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs. The incumbent participates in daily huddles and weekly team meetings where patient care planning and management occur.
The incumbent performs a daily review of active/pending consults, Electronic Wait List (EWL), Recall list and Audiocare communications for accuracy and disposition and coordinates administrative services for veterans, family members, caregivers, general public, and administrative and clinical staff to insure continuity of inpatient and oupatient care. When records are received, the incumbent will ensure that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into the Computerized Patient Record System. The incumbent is responsible for completion of personnel reports, rosters, and maintenance of supplies and forms. The incumbent also conducts special audits, studies or surveys to be utilized in the development of procedures, and assist employees in collecting complete and appropriate data for reporting processes and generating revenue.
The incumbent will generate patient workload reports for validation and monitor activity in clinical areas to assure consistent and accurate reporting, organize and implement quality assurance monitors, and prepare a wide variety of administrative reports and documents for supervisor and Mental Health Clinic Coordinator. The incumbent must be able to interpret and communicate requirements of VA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities. The incumbent schedules appointments and utilizes the EWL accurately and in a timely manner. All appointments will be made with the patient's input, either in person or by phone. The incumbent may also be asked to assist in processing Veterans travel payment vouchers for the Beneficiary Travel Program and Health Benefits Unit. Additional duties or tasks my be assigned by the supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations.
The incumbent intervenes to resolve difficult problems and diffuses potential dissatisfaction with VA services in order to prevent congressional and adverse publicity. The incumbent serves as a technical advisor and liaison with contacts at all levels. The incumbent must completely understand and be able to explain complex regulations and eligibility criteria concerning veterans' entitlements and VA benefits, priorities for care, access to care, and advanced clinic access. The incumbent must maintain the ability to perform the varied and complex duties of each of the Program Support Assistants (Care Facilitators) and the MSAs in the Mental Health Service Line or on irregular tours. The work requires the ability to work in a busy environment, multi-task, and organize a large group of staff in various work areas to produce results, ensure compliance, as well as process and follow-up on a very high volume of phone calls or written requests from patients inquiring about appointments or their status on the EWL. The work requires a high degree of judgment, fact finding, and coordination with people at various levels.
Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Occasional extended hours are required due to Early Morning and Evening appointments.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
b. English Language Proficiency
c. Experience
(1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
d. Certification. None required.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL PREVIOUS EMPLOYEMENT IS IN MONTH/YEAR, TO/FROM FORMAT OR WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CREDIT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Creditable Experience:
(1) Knowledge of Current MSA Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current MSA responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MSA.
(2) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience at the next lower grade level.
(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MSA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate the KSA’s below:
1. Ability to collaborate, communicate, set priorities, and organize the work in order to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
2. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
3. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care.
4. Advanced knowledge of managing a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment.
5. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow, patient care, and the revenue process.
6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.
References : VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard, dated June 2012, http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIRED:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The majority or work is performed in an office setting, primarily while seated. The position requires some standing, ambulation, bending, and carrying such items as training manuals.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.
Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
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