Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • San Diego, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) works in Nursing Service Ward Administration at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), collaborating with an interdisciplinary team and other healthcare professionals to provide accessible care that meets patient needs. The MSA independently performs a full range of clerical healthcare support duties in inpatient and/or outpatient settings, using knowledge of computerized data entry, information-processing systems, and patient-care software. The position works under the direction of a Lead MSA/Advanced MSA and makes decisions based on guidelines, precedents, and regulations.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with rotating weekends and holidays. The shift may be 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m., or 11:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) are not authorized.

This is a GS-05 position. A high school diploma, GED, or state or territorial proficiency certificate is a basic education requirement. Applicants must meet the grade requirements through either one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade or two years of education above high school, and demonstrate the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities. A one- or two-year trial period is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• High school diploma, GED, or proficiency certificate from a state or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-05: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or two years of education above high school.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology sufficient to understand diagnoses and procedures and communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Customer-service skills, including identifying customer concerns and referring them to appropriate staff to support satisfactory resolution.
• Ability to use computerized programs and systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient-identifying information in electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.
• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently in performing a wide variety of patient-support duties.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone with internal and external customers.
• Creditable experience must involve KSAs associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient-support role in a non-VA inpatient or outpatient healthcare setting; qualifying experience may be paid or unpaid.
• Must complete the required application steps, including the online assessment, and provide the required application documents.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• For current federal employees, a recent 2026 SF-50 showing current grade, step, salary, and tenure is required for eligibility; award SF-50s are not accepted.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.
• Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Nice To Haves

• Background in healthcare or the medical field.
• Strong computer skills.
• Excellent customer-service skills.
• Organizational and time-management skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to change.
• Dependability with schedules.

Responsibilities

• Apply general rules and policies related to clinic and ward functions, staff, and automated data-processing methods in support of patient treatment.
• Perform admissions, discharges, and transfers (ADT) and associated administrative healthcare-service duties in inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
• Retrieve and scan existing documents into the Electronic Health Record system.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines, and annotate patient records.
• Interpret and verify provider orders as appropriate, monitor inpatient electronic orders for areas of responsibility, and verify orders in a timely manner.
• Verify and update patient demographics.
• Interact with internal and external customers to achieve desired outcomes.
• Respond to messages and ensure they are communicated in a timely manner.
• Keep the electronic Bed Management System (BMS) accurate and up to date.
• Answer incoming phone calls and patient call lights, and relay messages to appropriate staff.
• Report backlogs, difficulty meeting deadlines, or difficulty obtaining information from clinicians or the record.
• Communicate with nursing staff, physicians, case managers, and other allied health professionals while handling sensitive information appropriately.
• Treat Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and VA staff courteously, tactfully, and respectfully; handle customer conflicts and problems constructively.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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