Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range

This range is provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$43,894.00/yr - $71,658.00/yr

The Medical Support Assistant functions as an initial point of contact for units – clinics – patients – call centers – or Care in the Community (CITC). Responsibilities include scheduling patient appointments, tracking, reviewing, and responding to electronic orders, consults, and other elements in the electronic medical records and medical systems. Work requires knowledge of computerized data entry, information processing systems, and software related to patient care.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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 3.j
• Experience:
  
  Six (6) months experience of 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:
  
  One (1) year above high school - OR
• Experience/Education Combination:
  Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations:
  Creditable
  
  Experience:
  
  Must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities [or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting]
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above - the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
  Medical Support Assistant - GS-3 (a) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignment
• This is an entry level MSA position
• It is expected that MSAs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• At this level - 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 make and cancel appointments - review patient records for necessary information - and review patient demographics and insurance verification
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate ALL of the KSAs below: i
• Ability to meet - communicate - and interact with individuals in a courteous and helpful manner in order to give instructions and arrange appointments
• ii
• Ability to utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems
• iii
• Ability to learn and utilize basic medical terminology to record patient messages and physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care
• Medical Support Assistant - GS-4 (a) 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 - (b) Education
• Two years of education above high school
• (c) 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 complaints
• interacting with…