The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is responsible for providing support to the staff in health care delivery in a diversified ambulatory care setting. Inpatient dayshift MSA is required to work weekends and holidays, utilizing working knowledge of all medical center programs and services and is the focal point for both veterans and clinical staff.

Duties

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include, but are not limited to: Interacting with both internal and external customers; Establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts; Verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system and pre-registration screens; Scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines; Provide clerical support to include, but not limited to preparing/mailing letters, placing phone calls, printing labels/armbands, maintaining/updating rosters and phone lists; Accurately processing all patient movements to include interward transfers, discharges, return absent sick; Screen for administrative and medical documentation (i.e. advance directive screening note; organ donation screening notes). Canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; Entering no-show information; assist with monitoring the electronic wait list; facilitates and assists with patient travel activities; preparing for clinic visits; Ensuring encounter forms are administratively completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; Verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; conducting all means tests when appropriate; Give advisory and technical assistance to all applicable customers regarding eligibility and enrollment services, programs and activities; Interprets eligibility requirements in order to make eligibility determination to ensure that veterans and beneficiaries meet legal/contractual requirements for medical care; Process all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities and non-VA hospitals and facilities; Communicates pertinent information to patients, co-workers and clinical staff members; performing accurate eligibility assessments, co-pays and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage; Monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments. Work Schedule: M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Weekends, Holidays, Day Shift Inpatient Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education: 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, Education: One year above high school; OR, Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. Grandfathering Provision. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, the following must be met for each grade level. Medical Support Assistant, GS-3: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. And Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must possess and demonstrate all of the KSAs below in their resume: 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-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. And Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must possess and demonstrate all of the KSAs in their resume 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: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level; OR, Education. Four years of education above high school And Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must posess and demonstrate all of the KSAs in their resume 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 in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. vi. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/117, Part II, Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant Qualification StandardFor more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]