Lead Medical Support Assistant (Training)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Jefferson Barracks (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) at the VA Health Administration Service Training Department provides administrative support, staff guidance, and training on scheduling directives, clinic workflows, patient access, and related medical support functions. The LMSA develops training materials and delivers classroom instruction.

The LMSA also performs lead duties, coordinating advanced MSA assignments and workflow, ensuring accurate appointment scheduling across clinics, and guiding staff

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and clinical flow processes related to access to care across clinics, specialties, and communities.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff to obtain the desired effect.
• Ability to utilize patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks to meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide staff development and training.
• Ability to manage staffing requirements, workflow priorities and follow up on pending issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead duties: spend at least 25% of time guiding and coordinating Advanced MSA assignments and workflow.
• Ensure accurate and timely scheduling of appointments across multiple clinics.
• Provide guidance to staff on policy changes and procedures; create and maintain staff schedules.
• Liaise among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.

Skills

Medical terminology

Clinical flow processes

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Staff training

Staffing management

Education

High school diploma / GED

Job description

The Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) assigned to the Health Administration Service (HAS) Training Department provides administrative support, staff guidance, and training on VHA scheduling directives, clinic workflows, patient access, and related medical support functions. The LMSA develops training materials and delivers classroom instruction.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• 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 reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations: GS-7 Lead Medical Support Assistant

• Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6).
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to meeting the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • 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.
  • 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.
• Assignment: For all Lead assignments the Lead MSA must spend at least 25% or more of their time performing lead duties. 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.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This position is above the full performance level.

Physical Requirements

The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.