Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for Medical Support Assistants (Advanced). The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) will function in Patient Care Administrative Service (PCAS), Ambulatory Care & Processing, Parma location.

Duties of this position include but are not limited to :

• Schedules patient appointments.
• Coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary), ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and provides the necessary recommendations to ensure compliance or corrective actions and the appropriate level of access.
• Maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge.
• Communicates with non-VA medical facilities; facilitates / processes secure messaging with the patient and team; notifies patients of appointments.
• Manages a tracking system for follow up care such as Return to Clinic Orders, Recall, consults, tests, etc.).
• Participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care.
• Sets priorities and deadlines, adjusts the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs.
• Works with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and enters appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Monitors pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit / procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work); manages electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues.
• Participates and provides input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performs administrative follow up actions.
• Participates in and independently follows up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care; evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patient is vested.
• Educates providers about shared patients (those who receive their care at multiple VAs or those who have care in the community) and bringing to the attention of the provider.
• Plans and organizes work with general assistance from the supervisor as to meet local and VA-wide time frames to complete analysis requirements, reports and special assignments and only refers to the non-routine and high technical problems to his / her supervisor.
• Reports backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians, or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the record.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties.
• Routinely communicates with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information.
• Works independently making decisions based on guidelines, precedents and regulations and performs duties in such a manner that only minimal supervision is required.

Work Schedule : 8 : 00 am to 4 : 30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Telework : Not available.

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 91463A

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized.