Medical Support Assistant-Surgical Care

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, SD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) provides administrative support that affects patient access and care, including scheduling and coordinating appointments, collecting and updating demographic and insurance information, patient processing, and customer service. The position requires reporting in person to the Fort Meade, SD VAMC; telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

The MSA supports Surgical Care clinics by greeting and checking in patients, helping with mobile check-in, gathering medical information, directing patients to appropriate health care team members, and resolving or documenting concerns. The role also performs receptionist duties and maintains scheduling and administrative records in accordance with VA scheduling requirements.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The full performance level is GS-5, and applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5. No experience is required for the basic GS-3 requirements; higher grades require qualifying experience or education and grade-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or qualifying proficiency certificate.
• No experience is required for the basic GS-3 level.
• 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-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.
• Ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities applicable to the grade sought, including medical terminology, patient communication and customer service, use of office automation and scheduling systems, appointment scheduling, independent patient support work, and professional communication.
• Must complete the application, questionnaire, online assessment, and other required application steps and documents.
• Subject to background and security investigation and required pre-employment onboarding and identification verification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019; a pre-employment examination or evaluation may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Medical terminology.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Ability to multitask and work through multiple interruptions during the day.

Responsibilities

• Greet and check in patients and assist with mobile check-in when needed.
• Gather medical information when needed and refer patients to the appropriate member of the health care team.
• Report backlogs, difficulties meeting deadlines, and uncooperative physicians.
• Document complaints and identify customer concerns; resolve issues accurately and promptly and follow up as needed.
• Monitor copying and faxing, answer and route incoming calls, validate and update demographics, and verify insurance information in ICB.
• Follow the current VA Scheduling Directive and Minimum Scheduling Efforts.
• Prepare for clinics, including printing appointment and clinic lists, and ensure encounter forms are completed.
• Attempt to schedule return-to-clinic orders daily and perform daily consult report cleanup and routine review of active and pending consults.
• Interpret, verify, and disposition provider orders; complete reports and record meeting minutes.
• Scribe with a co-signer and monitor appointments for the assigned area of responsibility.
• Monitor and maintain clinic grids with supervision and process transfers to other facilities.
• Monitor Audiocare and VEText, perform basic eligibility requirements, and maintain warehouse supplies and clinic forms.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and 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.
• 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 child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, if requested and approved.

What This Job Offers

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