Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Shreveport, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is assigned to the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. The MSA provides administrative medical support, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with Veterans Health Administration national scheduling guidelines. The position may support a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or Specialty Care, including Medicine, Surgical, and Mental Health services. Assignments may be in a clinic-based outpatient clinic, inpatient setting, call center, outpatient clinic, PACT model, or a Specialty Care setting involved in a PACT model.

The MSA is a member of a clinical team that may include a primary care provider (MD, NP, or PA), registered nurse care manager, clinical associate (LPN, medical assistant, or health technician), and administrative associate (MA, MSA, or health technician). The full-performance level is GS-5; the vacancy may be filled at GS-3 through GS-5. The work schedule is Sunday through Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., subject to change based on facility needs. This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or state/territorial proficiency certificate.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• No experience is required for the basic requirements.
• For GS-4: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or one year of education above high school, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-4: basic medical terminology knowledge; skill recording patient messages and understanding physician follow-up requests; courteous and helpful communication with people from varying backgrounds and health care team members; and ability to use and navigate office automation equipment and software.
• For GS-5: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or two years of education above high school, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-5: advanced medical terminology knowledge; customer service skills and ability to identify and refer customer concerns; ability to use computerized systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient-identifying information; ability to schedule medical appointments; ability to work independently on varied patient support duties; and effective, professional communication in person, electronically, and by telephone.
• Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements, complete onboarding and application requirements, and pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing.
• Physical demands may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and verify provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Check patients in for appointments; schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and consults.
• Enter no-show information and monitor the electronic wait list.
• Prepare for clinic visits and monitor inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility.
• Ensure encounter forms are completed to obtain appropriate workload credit.
• Verify and update patient demographic and insurance information.
• Process emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals.
• Perform basic eligibility, copay, and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage.
• Record patient messages and understand physician requests regarding follow-up medical care.
• Communicate with patients, internal and external customers, and health care team members to support patient care.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child, and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED