Medical Support Assistant

The employee is responsible for initiating and carrying out a variety of administrative and technical duties in support of the Access & Office of Community Care (AOCC) Service Line. The employee's primary duties include ensuring smooth administrative coordination of patient care and appointments, along with managing logistics related to Veteran community care. This involves facilitating the coordination of care between the Birmingham VA Medical Center (VAMC) and non-VA providers.

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience
  :
  Six months experience in clerical, office or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR,
• Education: One year above high school; OR combination of experience and education for entry level.
• English Language Proficiency: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

In addition to basic requirements listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining candidate grades. Candidates must demonstrate all Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) according to grade level. Current VHA employees may qualify by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment. This is an entry level MSA position. MSAs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. MSAs apply general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients. They utilize a variety of patient data systems in scheduling patients for treatment and annotates patient records.

They perform front desk duties, receive telephone calls and visitors to the MSA unit. They make and cancel appointments, review patient records for necessary information, and review patient demographics and insurance verification. They consult with clinic staff when processing physician scheduling and administrative orders.

Experience. One year of experience in clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. OR,

Education. Two years of education above high school.

Assignment. This is a developmental level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs at this level receive minor and less frequent guidance from higher experienced staff members for more difficult tasks. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatment; interviewing patients for appointments; referring patients to other medical specialty clinics; providing information to patients necessary to resolve VA Handbook complaints;

interacting with both internal and external customers; reviewing and documenting medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records, as well as administrative records; verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system;…