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Lead Medical Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration FT Harrison, MT

Summary

The Lead Community Care MSA performs a full range of duties. This position is under the Fort Harrison Medical Center in the Community Care Scheduling Office under the Health Administration Service and can be located at any VA facility in Montana as long as it meets the needs of the facility. The Lead MSA monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow.


Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$68,970 - $89,662 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBSU-13099686-27-DVS
Control number
892854600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees Only within the Fort Harrison VA Healthcare System. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Duties

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  • The position is responsible to lead a group of Medical Support Assistants (MSA) at a GS-3, 4, 5 or 6 level. Responsible to their supervisor for ensure that the work assignments the other employees of the team are carried out by performing a range of duties such as: Distribute and balance the workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization, assure timely accomplishment of assigned workload, and assure that each employee has enough work to keep busy. Keep in touch with status and progress of work, make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtain assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise, such as backlogs which cannot be handled promptly. Estimate and report on expected time of completion of work and maintain records of work accomplishments and time expended and prepare reports as requested. Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, reference materials and supplies. Give on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices. Assists with unusual situations which do not have clear precedents. The incumbent plans and carries out successive steps of work assignments. Independently handles scheduling problems and deviations based on personal knowledge of Community Care Scheduling operations and policy.
  • Check on work in progress or spot check work not requiring review (e.g. filing or direct services) and review completed work to see that supervisor's instruction on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met. Amend or reject work not meeting establish standards, refer to supervisor questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards. Monitor working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting, safety, etc. Inform employees of available services and employee activities. Resolve simple, informal complaints of employees and refer others to superior. Report to supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems. Provides information to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance, and personnel needs.
  • Individuals who perform Lead MSA duties are considered the chief sources of patient flow information. Consult tracking, verification of doctor's orders, treatment orders, the extracting of medical information and review of records for completeness. He/She facilitates scheduling of appointments with multiple services, and other general information, initiating appropriate action as required.
  • Functions as a member of the Health Administrative Services, provides assistance to other team members when appropriate. Communicates with patients in a manner, which is appropriate based on age, gender or maturation. Customer focused interactions are conducted in a professional, courteous manner. Adheres to fire, safety, and security requirements. Initiates/prepares automated authorization for medical and hospital services to include appropriate explanation of VA guidelines. Ensures appropriate communication is mailed and/or faxed to appropriate veterans and providers. Comprehends the boundaries of Community Care Scheduling responsibility; addressing directly or directing inquiries as appropriate to TPA. Responsible for editing of patient data to reflect changes in status of existing authorizations, such as address changes. Cancels fee basis consults when notices are received. Organizes and conducts an effective office environment which promotes the efficiency of program operations, creates the tone for a positive customer response to our organization, and enhances the public image of the medical center with external customers.
  • Provides personal and hands-on customer services to beneficiaries/customers requesting information or receiving health care services. Prepares and initiates necessary reports, graphic presentations, and correspondence independently in support of the program goals and objectives. Assists in presenting program data/information to medical center staff for the purpose of staff orientation and/or program review.
  • Communicates with physicians and schedules patients for outpatient clinic appointments as needed. Participates in activities for the development and implementation of audits for the program. Deals effectively, professionally with professional personnel in the medical center/community.
  • Communicates with patients in a manner, which is appropriate to cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturations needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. Customer focused and interactions are conducted in a professional, courteous manner.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 08:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-52856A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 identification 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.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • 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.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

  • United States 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: None.
  • Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
  • Licensure/Certification/Registration: None.
  • Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
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).Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
  1. 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.
  2. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements.
Grade Determinations:
Lead Medical Support Assistant, GS-07:
Experience:
One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  1. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community.
  2. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
  3. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
  4. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
  5. Ability to provide staff development and training.
  6. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-7 grade level.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Teamwork


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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: Interested in a career that offers a true work-life balance? Look no further! The Montana VA Health Care System offers a balance of professional and clinical complexity that stimulates growth yet, it also allows the professional an opportunity to enjoy life outside of work. If you are interested in a career that offers an integrated patient-centered approach while providing compassionate and state of the art care to Veterans, we welcome you to apply. By serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans, we fulfill President Lincoln's promise, "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."

The VA is located on the picturesque and historic 138 acres of Fort Harrison that adjoins the capital city, Helena, and serves as the halfway mark between Yellow Stone and Glacier National Parks. The area offers some of the best outdoors activities such as: hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, camping, boating, golf, skiing, snowmobiling, and hunting. The Helena area truly is an outdoors playground. Helena offers the perfect mix of social activity, modern businesses and family life making it an ideal location to start a career, raise a family, or ease into retirement.

The health care system offers a 50-bed general medical and surgical facility comprised of a broad range of acute, chronic, and specialized inpatient and outpatient services and is co-located with the VBA Regional Office.

Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
719-227-4600
Email
V19USAJOBS@VA.GOV
Address
Montana VA Health Care System
3687 Veterans Drive
Fort Harrison, MT 59636
US

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