Clarification from the agency

This is an INTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT and is limited to current permanent employees of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System to include CBOC's --NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:
The Lead MSA monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow in all assigned Inpatient areas. Lead MSA assures coverage of all areas of responsibility; conducts ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; ensures accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; provides guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures, distributes and balances workload; orients and provides on-the-job training for new and current employees; ensures all training requirements are met; organizes the work structure of his/her assigned areas; and acts as liaison between MSA and staff in order to resolve day-to-day conflicts. The Lead MSA will perform a full range of duties with minimal supervision.

Specific Functions:
The Lead MSA demonstrates the advanced knowledge associated with current MSA/AMSA responsibilities. They have advanced knowledge using computer systems such as VISTA, CPRS, Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, Bio-Point as well as other computer programs used by the MSA/AMSA's. The
Lead MSA duties include but are not limited to:
- Responsible for scheduling appointments, including interpreting, and verifying provider orders.
- Ability to work independently, setting priorities, and coordinate work.
- Develops and maintains effective, efficient, and professional communication with persons of all backgrounds.
- Actively participates in team meetings and huddles by sharing information, problem solving, and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care.
- Able to work independently, setting deadlines and priorities, adjusting the flow to help meet deadlines.
- Works with team members to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic medical record.
- Monitors pre/post-appointment requirements (i.e., x-rays, labs, etc.) and ensure requirements are met.
- Ensures that transportation/escort services are properly arranged within the units of the Community Living Center.
- Ensures Bed Management System in the Community Living Center is accurately identifying inpatients and assigned bed status daily.
- Performs administrative follow up actions.
- Responsible for running Talent Management System (TMS) reports for the Community Living Center nursing staff and updating appropriate spreadsheets.
- Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care.
- Advanced knowledge of Inpatient scheduling of appointments for the Community Living Center.
- Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow, patient care, and revenue process.
- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by medical staff.
- Trains and guides new inpatient MSA/AMSA's, ensures all training requirements are met.
- Monitors new MSA/AMSA progress and reports to supervisor any areas of concern.
- Monitors and provides guidance to MSA/AMSA's when initiating new procedures and processes and ensures current processes are being followed.
- Acts as a liaison between MSA/AMSA's and other medical staff to resolve day to day conflicts, including supervisor when necessary.
- Completes reviews of active/pending consult lists and return to clinic orders.
- Provides input on performance.
- Conducts ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work.
- Assists in providing inpatient MSA/AMSA coverage when necessary.
- Creating and maintain employee work schedules, assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility, distributing and balancing workload.
- Able to perform administrative duties of the Supervisor in his/her absence.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
Experience-No Experience required
Education-High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
Certification. None required.
Grandfathering Provision. All 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 occupation. For 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 occupation
Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-6 Lead Medical Support Assistant
1. Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to Basic Requirements and the experience listed above, candidates must be able to demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

(a) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
(b) Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.
(c) 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.
(d) Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
(e) Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
(f) Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
(a) Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations.
(b) Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
(c) Ability to provide staff development and training.
(d) Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage priorities, and coordinate with staff in the unit in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work.
(e) Ability to review and monitor data to ensure all reports are complete and accurate.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard (va.gov)

Preferred experience: Community Living Center Experience

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.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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, resume, 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.