Medical Support Assistant

SummaryThe incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in the Outpatient Clinic Operations section - Department of Veterans Affairs - Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville - TN and reports to the Supervisory Medical Support Assistant - Outpatient Clinic Operations of Specialty areas of the service.QualificationsApplicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.Basic RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C.7407(a)Experience and/or Education requirement ExperienceNo experience requiredEducationHigh school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of EducationLicensure/Certification/RegistrationNone English Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7403(f)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)GS-05 - Grade Determination ExperienceOne year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade levelCreditable experience at this level include - but are not limited to: scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatmentinterviewing patients for appointmentsreferring patients to other medical specialty clinicsproviding information to patients necessary to resolve complaintsinteracting with both internal and external customersreviewing and documenting medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records - as well as administrative recordsverifying third party insurance and updating informationobtaining medical information from patientscoordinating information and actions related to patient care and servicesand scheduling appointments in accordance with scheduling guidelinesOR - EducationTwo years of education above high schoolAND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesCandidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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 reportsAdvanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patientsAbility to schedule medical appointments in a clinical settingAbility to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support workAbility to communicate effectively and professionally [in person - electronically - and/or by telephone - with internal and external customersSkill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns - and refer to the appropriate staff - as necessary - to ensure a satisfactory resolutionNote: You must provide detailed information of your experience performedInformation such as ""I was a Medical Support Assistant"" is insufficient to determine your qualificationsExperience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per weekReferences: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. Physical Requirements: Operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one timeWork is generally sedentaryhowever - there may be some walking - standing - bending - and carrying of light itemsWork Environment: The work may be stressful due to the accelerated pace for several hours at a time during peak hours or on days that have a large volume of activitySee VA Directive and Handbook 5019.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: Schedules appointments - including interpreting - and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelinesPlans and organizes work general assistance from the supervisor as to meet local and VA - wide time frames to complete analysis requirements - reports and special assignmentsReports backlogs - difficulties in meeting deadlines - uncooperative physicians - or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the recordMaintains the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required dutiesCommunicates with physicians - case managers - and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive informationWork Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm 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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 70614F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized