Lead Medical Support Assistant (Mental Health)

<p>The incumbent serves as a member of the Durham VA Health Care System, within the Mental Health Department operating within a Direct Care area at duty stations throughout the health care system. The Lead Medical Support Assistant is responsible for assessing daily workloads, assigning tasks, ensuring team coverage, evaluating training records, and determining the training needs for Medical Support Assistants on interdisciplinary teams.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Major Duties: The Lead MSA monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility; conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures; distributing and balancing workload; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; orienting and providing on-the-job training for new and current employees; ensuring all training requirements are met; organizing the work structure of his/her assigned areas; and acting as liaison between MSA and staff in order to resolve day to day conflicts. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent(s) at least 25% of the time. The Lead MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and performs all related duties; customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and assure appointment schedules are maintained by MSA staff for one or more outpatient clinics. The Lead MSA 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 Lead MSA will have the responsibility of performing the duties related to the Beneficiary Travel Program which includes assuring travel requests are processed in a timely manner and that they are reviewed, and appropriate documentation completed before sending to Has or Fiscal Service. The Lead MSA will also train the MSA staff on how to process the beneficiary travel requests. The Lead MSA must assure that the requests entered by the MSA staff are reviewed by the Lead MSA or Supervisory MSA and if the requests are entered by the Lead MSA, they are reviewed by the Supervisory MSA or Supervisory Medical Administration Specialist/designated management staff. Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients through the use of two forms of identification, name and full Social Security Number. The patient may also present the Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) for identification. When assisting the MSA staff in the check-in process, he/she must use each interaction with the patient to validate and update patient demographic information, either in person during check-in or over the phone, to decrease the incidence of returned mail due to incorrect addresses and inability to contact patient by phone due to incorrect number. Assures MSA staff explains the VA's mandate to collect insurance information to veterans, their families, and other eligible patients. Assures staff collects, scans, and updates health insurance information serving a major role in the revenue process. The incumbent(s) contributes to the revenue collection process by identifying patients with third party insurance. Promotes veteran registration for and utilization of MyHealtheVet (MHV). When records are received, the incumbent(s) will ensure that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to the appropriate department for scanning. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 0800-1630 Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.