The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position performs clerical support of the care and treatment given to patient's charts, or work associated with the medical records systems of the inpatient wards of the facility. Incumbent also maintains all electronic entries associated with the patient's inpatient care and assists with planning, discharging and follow-up of all inpatients preparing to leave the medical center.
Basic Requirements: 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. Experience and Education. (1) Experience. Six 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, (2) Education. One year above high school; OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None required. Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant, GS3: (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of] the KSAs below: 1. Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals in a courteous and helpful manner in order to give instructions and arrange appointments. 2 Ability to utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems. 3. 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. AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. 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. 2. 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 patient care. 3. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients. 4. Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics. Medical Support Assistant, GS5: (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level including experience such as recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics and using various types of office automation equipment and software. OR, (b) Education. Four years of education above high school. AND, (c) Demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) to meet the GS-05 grade level: 1. Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports. 2. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. 3. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. 4. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. 5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. 6. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Preferred Experience: N/A Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS03 to GS05. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations
**Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agency should apply under CBST-12751588-25-RC** Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of the Medical Support Assistant (MSA) include but are not limited to: The incumbent(s) receives telephone calls for the unit, records, and relays messages to appropriate staff. Provides general information regarding visiting hours, and medical center policies on visitors. Able to direct patients and visitors to resources requested and available for veterans care and an understanding of how resources relate to questions asked. On ward, the MSA must be able to respond to all emergent situations such as codes, procedures and orders which are urgent/stat in origin. The MSA must be able to perform without delay his/her role in each situation and able to follow established procedures when calling a code, function within the code and renewing resources after the code. Coordinates with the medical clinics to send inpatients for required tests, pre-operative procedures, therapies, and scheduled appointments based on the doctor's orders as an inpatient or discharge instructions. The incumbent(s) receives, directs, transfers, and discharges patients; receives and directs visitors, answer routine, abrupt, and emergent inquiries and makes appropriate referral of questions concerning patient's condition. Coordinate with nursing staff to assign rooms for new admissions and transfers as well as review the day's movements for bed availability. Build a medical chart for each new admission. Respond to technical questions regarding patient rights, responsibilities, and advance directives. In the Extended Care Units, signs for release of patient funds for purchase of services and secures coupons for services in a safe on each unit. Perform a variety of duties in support of data entry and collection for the unit. Ensure that patients who are admitted from the doctor's orders are entered in the CPRS/GUI computer system. Electronically transfers and discharges patients using the VistA and CPRS/GUI systems. Post patients' allergies and medical alerts on the chart and warnings and precautions and nurse/ team assignments into the Bed Management System (BMS). Prints and updates the electronic inpatient ward rosters, current inpatient list, and inpatient appointment list. Accurately maintains the Ward Gains and Losses log and disposes of the log at the end of the 24-hour day to remain in compliance of privacy directives and HIPPA laws. Post patient's appointments, therapy times, and required labs and procedures on boards which are maintained at the nurses' station but are also kept in a manner compliant with privacy directives. Electronically transcribes all doctors' orders and alerts staff for time critical medications, labs, xrays, and EKG's. Manually transcribes doctors' handwritten or electronic orders onto the appropriate medication, pre-op, or treatment sheets for nursing staff. Verifies and corrects patient information in the computer systems concerning treating specialties, providers, and times of movements, and informs supervisor of discrepancies. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm; Sunday-Saturday, 7:30am-4:00pm; or Sunday-Saturday, 3:30pm-Midnight; subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: ADHOC only telework may be available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 586-00130-F; 586-00131-F; 586-00132-F. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.