Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Akron, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting a Medical Support Assistant for Community Outpatient Service at the Akron, Ohio Clinic. The MSA performs technical and clerical support duties that facilitate the work of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nursing assistants, and other medical facility staff providing direct patient care. The position works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary care delivery model, using organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to support timely patient treatment. Duties include reception, customer service, scheduling, data entry, and administrative support for clinical colleagues.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• One year of education above high school, or an equivalent combination of experience and education for entry-level qualification.
• For GS-5: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or four years of education above high school.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to operate computerized programs and systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient-identifying information in electronic health records, scheduling systems, or reports.
• Knowledge of medical terminology sufficient to understand diagnoses and procedures and communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently while performing a wide variety of patient-support duties.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and by telephone with internal and external customers.
• Customer-service skills, including the ability to identify customer concerns and refer them to appropriate staff for resolution.
• Must meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Responsibilities

• Schedule, reschedule, and cancel patient appointments; maintain appointment schedules in accordance with applicable scheduling guidelines.
• Provide reception for incoming and outgoing customers and communications.
• Perform manual and electronic data entry.
• Review and update patient demographics and verify insurance information.
• Provide administrative support to clinical colleagues.
• Receive and direct phone calls courteously and promptly.
• Determine the nature of requests and provide requested information while following privacy rules and clinic processes.
• Request medical records from community healthcare facilities.
• Monitor intra- and inter-facility consults through completion.
• Contact patients with appointment reminders.
• Establish and maintain medical outpatient and inpatient charts and administrative records.
• Obtain medical information from patients and coordinate information and actions related to patient care and services.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service.
• 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 income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• 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