Transportation Asst (OA)

Summary

The Patient Transportation Assistant position is responsible for the approval and verification of all actions authorizing Beneficiary Travel. This position coordinates the scheduling of VA Station cars, vans, ambulances, medical flights, commercial flights and other contract transportation for patients.

Duties

• Duties include, but are not limited to: Eligibility: Independently interprets and applies regulations and procedures to determine legal eligibility for travel.
• Obtains and interprets patient's means and co-pay tests to verify veteran's eligibility status.
• Dispatching: Upon receipt of request for travel, incumbent determines the most cost efficient mode of travel for the patient considering factors such as special mode, distance, time of appointment or discharge, urgency, equipment or if an extra attendant is required.
• Incumbent is relied upon to keep travel costs down by questioning costly or unnecessary travel requests and suggests alternative arrangements.
• Trips are coordinated the day before, confirming with each patient their address, time of pick-up based on appointments, and eligibility for travel.
• Manifests are faxed or input into the database for ambulances, wheelchair, taxi, staff cars and contracted trips.
• Additional add-ons for unplanned trips are called in or communicated in various ways on a daily basis.
• This may be due to unplanned discharges, the unpredictable amount of time a patient must spend at his/her appointment or sudden need of an emergent nature.
• This usually causes changes in original dispatch orders.
• Transportation must be arranged to meet urgent needs of other departments such as radiology, SPD, fiscal, laboratory and pharmacy.
• Routinely works with other VA Medical Centers in VISN 3 area and New York State to coordinate patient travel needs.
• Billing: Incumbent posts daily in the database, the travel costs for each trip to be paid such as ambulance trips, wheelchair vans, taxi trips and other special modes as necessary.
• Monthly, this information is used to reconcile the bills submitted to us for reimbursement.
• A daily reviewing of the AOD Logs to identify after-hours and weekend contract activity is done.
• Bills are checked for accuracy and any discrepancies are researched for proper payment.
• In addition to the routine billing, incumbent regularly receives individual bills from both contract and non-VA contract sources of transportation.
• These bills must be researched to determine approval or denial of payment.
• This consists of bus company, airlines, med-flight company and viewing AOD Logs.
• A determination is made also for possible payment through fee basis.
• The employee independently gathers data, prepares reports used for statistical purposes for local and VISN usage, and makes recommendations consistent with normal practice, using experience in solving problems and handling unusual occurrences.
• The supervisors and users of the data are available to provide advice if significant changes in operations or data requirements occur.
• Data Entry: Input all travel information for posting purposes and reports and to input trip information.
• Communications: Incumbent will go to discharging wards to assure medications, clothing and discharge procedures and instructions have been completed to ensure seamless travel arrangements and pick-ups.
• Incumbent is required to communicate daily through personal contacts, telephone contacts, and by use of E-mail or FAX, with patients, their families, visitors and staff.
• Serves as the Liaison Officer with the representatives of ambulance companies, taxi companies and other agencies both VA and private sector to assure patient travel is completed successfully and most efficiently.
• Assist patients and staff with off-contract and alternative non-VA travel.
• Other Duties: Provide advisory assistance to patients and staff regarding any/all transportation needs.
• Responsible for participation in risk management/QA activities, safety programs, and other such quality management activities related to patient travel.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am – 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Position Description/PD#: Transportation Asst (OA)/PD00957A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

• Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) PCS Orders Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Documents Required: Resume Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
• Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.