LEAD MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Iowa; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Indiana VA Health Care System seeks a Lead Medical Support Assistant (MSA) at the Marion facility within the Mental Health Service Line. This role leads MSA staff, coordinates clerical support across interdisciplinary clinics, and ensures efficient patient access and workflow.

Applicants must meet basic VA requirements, with experience in administrative patient support and KSAs across inpatient/outpatient settings.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics.
• Strong communication with interdisciplinary care team staff.
• Ability to utilize patient systems across clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, scheduling, and workload distribution for MSA staff across clinics.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure efficient patient flow and access to care.
• Train and mentor new staff and ensure all required training is completed.

Skills

Medical terminology

Clinical workflow

Communication skills

Staff development

Time management

Team coordination

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Northern Indiana VA Health Care System is seeking an enthusiastic applicant to fill the roles of a Lead Medical Support Assistant at the Marion facility within the Mental Health Service Line. The Lead Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position serves as the Lead Clerk for all MSA staff and is a foundational role within the Mental Health Service Line to include all interdisciplinary clinics and that support the initiative.

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

To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following:

• 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. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS6)
• 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.
• 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).

Experience.

1. Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid or non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting
2. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, an individual employed 20 hours per week, or on a half-time basis, would receive credit for 1 fulltime workweek for each 2 weeks of service.
3. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower 3 grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level (FPL), the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

NOTE: Must be demonstrated on resume at time of applicant

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

You must possess one (1) full year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. This experience may include but is not limited to: assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility; answering questions for lower graded staff relating to health care services in an inpatient or outpatient setting, monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow; conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; distributing and balancing workload; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; orienting and providing on-the-job training for new and current employees; ensuring all training requirements are met; organizing the work structure of his/her assigned areas; and acting as a liaison between MSA and staff to resolve day to day conflicts.

AND

Demonstrate 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.

NOTE: The Specialized Experience and KSAs outlined above must be clearly demonstrated within your resume Please do not copy or paste the Specialized Experience or KSAs verbatim into your resume. Provide specific examples and details that illustrate how you meet these requirements. Failure to do so may result in your application not being referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Documentation Requirements for Proof of High School Completion or Higher:

• Copy of high school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR college transcript (official).

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-0679-07.

Physical Requirements

Most of the work is performed in an office setting, primarily while seated. The position requires some standing, ambulation, bending, and carrying of items such as training manuals. The Advanced MSA Is required to sit for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while having face to face contact with Veterans and answering the telephone. In addition, there can be increased stress due to the Intensity-of a patient/customer complaint or concern. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.