Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, MO

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Primary Care Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in the Whole Health department performs support duties in an interdisciplinary, coordinated-care model within a Primary Care setting. The MSA collaborates with and facilitates the work of physicians, nurses, and other medical-facility staff who provide patient care. The Advanced MSA coordinates and provides varying levels of support to unit staff and manages consult processing and action-required reports to help ensure patients are seen promptly and workload is recorded correctly. The role requires practical knowledge of computerized data-entry and information-processing systems, as well as knowledge of standard procedures, medical records, and medical terminology relevant to the services provided.

The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. The full-performance level is GS-5; selection may be at GS-3 through GS-5. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.

Requirements

• United States citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• GS-4 qualification: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or one year of education above high school, and the ability to demonstrate the specified GS-4 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• GS-4 knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in providing patient care.
• GS-4 skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests concerning follow-up medical care.
• GS-4 ability to communicate and interact courteously and helpfully with people from varied backgrounds and healthcare team members to facilitate patient care.
• GS-4 ability to use and navigate office-automation equipment and software, such as computer systems, web-based scheduling programs, insurance collection systems, scanning software, multi-line phones, and electronic fax programs.
• GS-5 qualification: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or two years of education above high school, and the ability to demonstrate the specified GS-5 knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• GS-5 advanced knowledge of medical terminology sufficient to understand diagnoses and procedures and communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• GS-5 customer-service skill, including identifying customer concerns and referring them to appropriate staff for resolution.
• GS-5 ability to operate computerized systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and personally identifying information in or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and reports.
• GS-5 ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• GS-5 ability to work independently on a wide variety of patient-support duties.
• GS-5 ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and by telephone with internal and external customers.
• Complete the required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Undergo a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Provide required education documentation when applicable; applicants using post-high-school education to substitute for GS-5 experience must submit an unofficial or official college transcript with the application.

Responsibilities

• Function as an independent clinic clerk and receptionist.
• Manage appointments according to clinic guidelines, including scheduling, cancelling, and rescheduling patient appointments and/or consults.
• Enter no-show information and complete encounters requiring action to obtain appropriate workload credit.
• Verify and update patient demographic and insurance information.
• Provide clerical and assistive patient-service support to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare personnel in Primary Care outpatient clinics, ensuring clerical components of care plans are completed appropriately.
• Receive and make telephone calls for clinical staff and serve as a receptionist for patients, professional and clinical staff, and the public.
• Compose correspondence related to clerical and administrative functions of the clinical service.
• Maintain electronic records and files related to the overall function of the specialty area.
• Prepare recurring reports on administrative and clinical functions and check the accuracy of reported data.
• Perform timekeeper duties.
• Coordinate and provide support to unit staff and manage consults and action-required reports to help ensure timely patient care and accurate workload entry.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on 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