Medical Support Assistant (Ward Administration)

SummaryThis position serves as a medical support assistant on the inpatient wards and is under the supervision of the Ward Administration Supervisor. Occupation involves technical work concerned with processing doctor's orders and maintenance of medical records as well as all patient movements throughout the patient's hospital stay to include discharge and /or transfer of patient to other facilities.QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperience and Education: ExperienceSix 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 positionOR - Education: One year (1) above high schoolOR - Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptableCreditable Experience Knowledge of MSA PracticesTo be creditable - the 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 settingExperience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic settingQuality of ExperienceQualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade levelFor all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) - and a range of varieties as described in this standard - at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the timePart-Time ExperiencePart-time experience as an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweekFor example - an MSA employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of serviceGrade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above - the following education and experience criteria MUST be met: Medical Support Assistant GS-5 Grade Level: Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level (this experience includes ability to communicate with others in a courteous and helpful mannerability to navigate and use automation equipment - computer systems and software - scheduling programsknowledge of medical terminology to assist in care of patientsskilled in recording patient messages and understanding physician request regarding medical care at internal or external clinics)OR Education: Two (2) years of education above high schoolCandidates MUST demonstrate ALL of the Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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 resolutionPhysical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentaryTypically - the employee sits comfortably to do the workHowever - there may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying light items such as papers - books and small parts - etcNo special physical demands are required to perform the workMay 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)Grandfathering ProvisionAll MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series - and grade held - which are a part of the basic requirements of the occupationFor employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned - promoted - or changed to a lower grade within the occupation(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard(3) If an employee who was converted to Title 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupationThe full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-5. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.DutiesThe supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives - establishing priorities - and determining deadlinesThe incumbent must coordinate efforts to ensure all aspects of duties are accomplished efficiently - timely - and correctlyEmployee routinely communicates with physicians - case managers - nurses - and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of sensitive informationDuties of the position include - but not restricted to: Reviews - processes - and verifies paper and computerized medical records - ensuring admission/transfer/discharge orders are written correctlyAlerts physicians for corrections to admitting/transfer/discharge orders are needed to ensure the orders are administratively correctSupport physicians and nurses in all administrative aspects of the patient's carePrints lab labels for pending labs and notifies the patient's nurse of lab drawsPrepares inpatient hard chart with appropriate labeling of allergies - advance directive - Durable Power of Attorney - isolation - organ donorResponsible for updating bed changes in the computerized chart - the patient location board - and the computerized Bed Management SystemNotifies nursing of all stat orders - patient movements - works closely with Bed Control to facilitate patient flow throughout the wards and unitsMakes updates in Bed Management System (BMS) when patients have changes in their statusPrepares discharge paperwork - notifies physician if outpatient consults need to be entered to ensure patient has proper follow up after dischargeSchedules follow up appointments in their assigned primary care clinics according to discharge instructionsArranges travel when needed for transfer to or appointments at other facilitiesPrepares paperwork for transfers to other VA's or outside facilities - ensuring physician has completed all required inter-facility transfer forms - and fee basis consultsNote: Duties may vary slightly depending on the VA Clinic you will be supporting Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday - Friday - 7:00am-3:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 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 VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional