Clarification from the agency

This position is hybrid title 38 occupations reported among the occupations with the largest staffing shortages and, therefore, under 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the FY 2023.

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If you are a current permanent employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including the facility where this vacancy is located) including VA Title 38, Title 38 Hybrid, and Canteen employees serving on excepted appointments covered by the interchange agreement or a current permanent Federal employee please apply to vacancy announcement CBTG-OCA-11686084-23-CJK for consideration.

The Medical Support Assistant serves in the Business Office of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The MSA has face to face interaction with the Veteran and/or Veteran's family and will interface with numerous computer applications. The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position serves as foundational role as a Ward Clerk or Emergency Department(ED) Clerk.. The incumbent reports to the Supervisory Medical Support Assistant. The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health administrative information. The incumbent performs a variety of clerical duties.

As front-line contact with patients and staff, the incumbent sets the tone for the perception concerning quality of healthcare services at the VA. The incumbent must possess a high level of customer service skills and is able to relate those skills when dealing with Veterans, families, and outside customers.

The ED Medical Support Assistant registers and checks in patients presenting at the ED. H/She updates patient demographics, collects 3rd party insurance information, scans insurance cards, requests medical records from outside entities, answers telephone inquiries, sends and receives faxes and provides ongoing administrative support to the ED clinical staff.

The Ward Medical Support Assistant coordinates all administrative ward duties associated with inpatient care and treatment on one or more medical, surgical or psychiatric wards.


All other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Tours of Duty will vary Depending on the needs of the Service at that location for that particular section/unit. Tours of duty should be discussed during the interview process. Tours of duty will vary (day shifts, afternoon shifts, night shift) to include weekends.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #: Medical Support Assistant/PD000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment Incentive Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel.
• Must pass pre-employment physical.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/15/2023.
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
• (1) Experience. Six months experience of clerical, office or other 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.
• 4) Certification. None required.
• 5) 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 3j.

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).

Basic requirements are needed for all grade levels and titles within the 0679 job series. Possession of the basic requirements will only qualify an applicant for the lowest grade of this series (GS-03). For grades above the entry level, additional grade requirements must be met as listed below:
AND
GS-05 (Full Performance Level)
Experience or Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4 grade) which is 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 Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position. Note: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Medical Support Assistant experience or an equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting.
OR
4 years of education above high school.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
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 make 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: Experience providing administrative support to inpatient wards as a Medical Support Assistant and/or experience serving in an Emergency (or Urgent Care setting ) Department providing administrative support as a Medical Support Assistant.

Grade Determinations: GS-05

References: VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G45

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-05 grade.

Physical Requirements: The work is mainly sedentary but requires some bending, walking, standing and the carry of such things as patient records, supplies and inter-office mail. This position may involve more frequent walking to various locations of the medical facility but these do not require unusual physical demands to perform the work. The incumbent has everyday exposure to communicable disease and at times, verbal abuse due to working in close proximity to patients. The incumbent performs a variety of clerical duties in support of the care of physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians and other professionals. Other responsibilities may include: the care and treatment given to patients such as receiving patients or maintaining patient files; work administering or advising on medical record systems; work maintaining/updating medical records in a ward, clinic, or other such unit of a medical facility.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.