Lead Medical Support Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Medical Support Assistant at the Iowa City VA Medical Center supports outpatient clinics within Specialty Medicine, coordinating daily workload, scheduling, and staff guidance to ensure smooth patient flow and high-quality administrative services.

This GS-7 lead role requires strong knowledge of medical terminology, ability to work across interdisciplinary teams, manage clinic workflow, and liaise between staff, patients, and community resources.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and clinical flow processes across multiple clinics.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff to obtain desired outcomes.
• Ability to utilize advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics and scheduling workflows.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Advanced MSA assignments and workflow across interdisciplinary units.
• Manage daily workload, staffing coverage, and training needs.
• Provide guidance on policies, maintain staff schedules, and liaise with patients and staff to resolve conflicts.

Skills

Advanced medical terminology

Interdisciplinary coordination

Staff training and development

Scheduling and workflow management

Communication with care team

Patient systems navigation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Lead Medical Support Assistant

The Lead Medical Support Assistant will work within Specialty Medicine at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to effectively plan, organize and execute a wide range of responsibilities and interactions with staff and patients in a variety of outpatient settings. This position provides medical administrative support to one or more outpatient clinics and is an integral member of the clinic team to effectively carry out day-to-day administrative operations.

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

• 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.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration: None
• 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).

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Lead Medical Support Assistant - GS-7

Experience One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level, Examples of experience may include:

Assignment

The Lead MSA is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. The Lead MSA is responsible for daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; and determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the unit with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; and acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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 resources.
• Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect (and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff).
• Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide staff development and training.
• 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-7.

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.