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Medical Support Assistant

$36,810 a year
Veterans Health Administration
Martinsburg Full-day Full-time

Description:

Medical Services Assistants (MSA's) are assigned to the ward, hospital acute care, intensive care nursing stations, CLC (Community Living Centers) units. They are responsible for initialing and carrying out a variety of administrative and clerical duties associated with the support of patient care, in-patient screening, advising, and assisting veterans seeking and receiving medical treatment on one or more of the Inpatient units at this facility.



Requirements:

Applicants 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 REQUIREMENTS: The following are the basic requirements for appointment as a Medical Support Assistant.

Citizenship. All applicants are required to be a citizen of the United States.

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.

English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Physical Requirements. Involves walking, bending, and lifting of medical records and working at a PC. .

GRADE REQUIREMENTS.

a. Creditable Experience

(1) Knowledge of Medical Support Assistant Practices.
To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current Medical Support Assistant responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an Medical Support Assistant or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting.

(2) Quality of Experience.
Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Medical Support Assistant experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade level. For 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 time.

(3) Part-Time Experience.
Part-time experience as an Medical Support Assistant or equivalent administrative patient support in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a Medical Support Assistant 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 service.

Grade Determinations.

In addition to the basic requirements 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 Medical Support Assistant position. It is expected that Medical Support Assistant [at this level] receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. At this level, Medical Support Assistants apply general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients. hey consult with clinic staff when processing physician scheduling and administrative orders.
(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-04
(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 Medical Support Assistant position. It is expected that 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.

(d) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

i. 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.
ii. 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.
iii. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
iv. Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.

Medical Support Assistant, GS-5
(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level OR
(b) Education. Four years of education above high school.

(c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for Medical Support Assistant. At this level, the Medical Support Assistant independently performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes. The Medical Support Assistant is responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

(d) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

i. 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.
ii. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
iii. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
iv. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
v. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G45

Preferred Experience:
Ability to operate computerized programs and systems.
Knowledge of Medical Terminology
Ability to schedules medical appointments.
Ability to work independently
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically and by telephone.
Great customer service skills
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.
Apr 12, 2024;   from: usajobs.gov

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