Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The Medical Support Assistant is integral in the daily operation to facilitate patient flow communication at the desks – perform vital administration duties such as updating BMS icons – paging physicians or other healthcare workers and performing the essential actions for admissions – transfers and discharge process (ADT).

• 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
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above – the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Medical Support Assistant - GS-3 Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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 perform front desk duties – receives telephone call – 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities – Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  Ability to meet – communicate – and interact with individuals in a courteous and helpful manner in order to give instructions and arrange appointments
• Ability to utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems
• 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 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, obtaining medical information from patients, coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines, and MSAs at this level refer all questions regarding medical attention to the appropriate health care team member
• Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities – Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  Ability to meet – communicate – and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients, Ability to use – and navigate between – various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e computer systems – web based scheduling programs, insurance collection system, scanning software – multiple line phone systems, electronic faxing programs) to support…