LEAD MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Summary This position functions as a Lead Medical Support Assistant at the Radiation Oncology Service. The Lead MSA will provide support to the service through a variety of functions through the coordination and performing administrative duties and procedures occurring with the department.

The Lead is responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day activities of all administrative programs and direct supervision to assure compliance with all requirements, quality control program management.

Responsibilities As a Lead Medical Support Assistant works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.

e., patient aligned care team, or other specialty care setting where the patient aligned care team model is used such as oncology, HIV, SCI, Military Sexual Trauma, etc.

The Lead Medical Support Assistant is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance and leadership to Medical Support Assistants and call center agents;

conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; development and training, organizing work and setting priorities to ensure completion of duties is accomplished in a timely manner, have an extensive knowledge base to provide timely and appropriate telephone caller referral and problem resolution, skill in communicating with others in order to meet each customer's needs.

Other duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to : Establishes priorities for the area and consults with the supervisor on complex and / or unusual issues.

Serves in a role that delegates priorities and schedules necessary coverage for absent staff members. Monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance;

conducts reviews to ensure quality of work. Ensures accuracy and timely scheduling of appointments, reports all backlogs and difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or records.

Routinely communicates with physicians, case managers and other allied health professionals. Maintains a current knowledge of VHA Directives, Handbooks and local policy memorandums impacting administrative duties and responsibilities, answers questions for other employees in the section regarding procedures, policies and directives.

In the Lead MSA role the incumbent serves as a resource for peers and provides education and on the job training for new and current employees.

Ensures all training requirements are met. Functions as primary timekeeper for Radiation Oncology Service, accurately maintaining timecards, overtime authorizations and leave records.

Thorough knowledge and understanding of ARIA (oncology information system) which is a computer software to manage the radiation oncology treatments.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday 7 : 30am-3 : 00pm Functional Statement # : 30718F Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.

S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details.

Qualifications Basic Requirements : United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. Medical Support Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.

S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet one of the following grade requirements for a specific grade level.

Examples of qualifying experience includes, but is not limited to : Working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary patient aligned care team, coordinating with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports, ensuring that clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic and making any necessary adjustments, assisting with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge;

facilitating secure messaging with the patient and team; notifying patients of normal lab results; developing and managing a tracking system for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.

• participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; entering appropriate information into the electronic record;
• monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit / procedure (e.g., X-ray, lab work); managing electronic wait list to verify and validating accuracy and resolve issues;

monitoring and tracking the work of others doing these related duties; etc. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the following KSAs : i.

Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and / or community resources.

ii. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.

iii. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks / responsibilities in order to meet deadlines. iv. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff .

v. Ability to provide staff development and training. vi. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs.

This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.

Preferred Experience : The Lead must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of ARIA ( oncology information system) which is a computer software to manage the radiation oncology treatments for the patients which is independent of all VA systems.

Additional Experience : One year of scheduling experience in a medical setting as the lower GS 6. Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https : / / www.

va.gov / ohrm / QualificationStandards / . Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.

g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community;

student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training, and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements : Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019.

This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. Work is sedentary and performed in an office environment. There is an occasional requirement for carrying of light items such as mail, papers, books, and files, and there is frequent bending, stooping, and standing when engaged in filing.

Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 7. Education There is not education substitution for this position. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages 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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.

e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.