Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Coralville, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) supports the Mental Health Service at the Coralville VA Clinic. The MSA handles the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information and uses personal computer applications, Vista, and other software systems. The role includes scheduling appointments and interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. The vacancy’s full performance level is GS-5; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, with an exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or a state or territorial proficiency certificate is required.
• No prior experience is required for GS-3. GS-4 requires one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade or one year of education above high school. GS-5 requires one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade or two years of education above high school.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
• GS-4 candidates must demonstrate basic medical terminology knowledge; skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician follow-up requests; courteous communication with people from varied backgrounds and health care team members; and ability to use office automation equipment and software.
• GS-5 candidates must demonstrate advanced medical terminology knowledge; customer-service skills; ability to operate computerized systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive health and identifying information; ability to schedule medical appointments; ability to work independently on varied patient-support duties; and professional communication in person, electronically, and by telephone.
• Selected applicants must complete required application steps, an online assessment, onboarding, a background/security investigation, and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for health care personnel.
• A one- or two-year trial period is required.
• Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019; a pre-employment examination or evaluation may be required.

Responsibilities

• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and consults in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Enter no-show information and monitor the electronic wait list.
• Prepare for clinic visits and monitor inpatient and outpatient appointments within 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, co-pay, and preauthorization checks for specific coverage.
• At the GS-4 and GS-5 levels, duties may also include interviewing patients for appointments, referring patients to other medical specialty clinics, responding to patient concerns, interacting with internal and external customers, reviewing and documenting electronic health and administrative records, answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages, and advising clinical staff on administrative processes.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families, with eligibility depending on position type.
• Selected applicants may request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual; approval is required and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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