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Medical Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital
This job announcement has closed

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?




Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/23/2023 to 04/24/2023
Salary
$33,906 to - $51,218 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 3 - 5
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
COS - Scheduling Support
Freeport, IL
COS - Scheduling Support
Rockford, IL
COS - Scheduling Support
Baraboo, WI
COS - Scheduling Support
Beaver Dam, WI
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is not a Virtual/Remote position.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OCA-EX-MA23-0679-3-4-5-EC
Control number
707808300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens This announcement is an Open Continuous Announcement and vacancies in various areas may be filled.

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Duties

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This is an Open Continuous Announcement and vacancies in various areas may be filled.

A recruitment incentive has been authorized for highly qualified candidates.

If you are a current, permanent VA Employee, you should apply under announcement :
OCA-IN-MA23-0679-3-4-5-EC


This position serves as a Medical Support Assistant for the Madison VA Medical Center within the Chief of Staff and Patient Administration Services at the following locations:

  • COS - Scheduling Support, Freeport, Illinois
  • COS - Scheduling Support, Rockford, Illinois
  • COS - Scheduling Support, Baraboo, Wisconsin
  • COS - Scheduling Support, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
  • COS - Scheduling Support, Janesville, Wisconsin
  • COS - Scheduling Support, Madison, Wisconsin
  • COS - Scheduling West Annex, Madison, Wisconsin
  • PAS - Health Benefits, Madison, Wisconsin
  • PAS - Community Care, Middleton, Wisconsin
The MSA provides various administrative and scheduling related support to their work unit.

Duties include but are not limited to:
  • Scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults
  • Entering no-show information
  • Monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources
  • Participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic
  • Monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments
  • Verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments
Work Schedule: Full-time
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Pre-employment physical required
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, VA applicants must meet all requirements within 15 days of the closing date of this
announcement, 04/24/2023.

Basic Requirements:

US Citizenship is required. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.).

ENGLISH: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Must possess six (6) months experience of clerical, office, customer service or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the Medical Support Assistant.
OR
Must have successfully completed one (1) year above high school. This education must have been obtained in an accredited technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
OR
Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for entry level. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE GRADE REQUIREMENTS AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GRADE LEVELS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.

GS-3 - This is an entry level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. At this level, MSAs apply general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients.
Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals in a courteous and helpful manner in order to give instructions and arrange appointments.
2. Ability to utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems.
3. Ability to learn and utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems.

GS-4 - This is a developmental level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs at this level receive minor and less frequent guidance from higher experienced staff members for more difficult tasks. MSAs at this level refer all questions regarding medical attention to the appropriate health care team member.
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 (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
4. Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.

GS-5 - This is the full performance level for MSAs. At this level, the MSA is expected to independently perform a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level that equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. At this grade level, experience consists of: interacting with internal and external customers; establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrative records; verifying third party insurance and updating insurance information in automated systems; obtaining medical information from patients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services; and scheduling appointments
OR
Education: Successful completion of four years of education above high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information into or from electron 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 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.


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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

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

Evidence of experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on your application or resume. Also, please provide work experience information such as hours per week and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish one (1) full year of experience. To be credible, experience must be documented in the application and verifiable through employment references and/or other means. **Your resume must support your answers in the occupational questionnaire.

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.

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