Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Bonham (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a detail-oriented administrative clerk to provide support across inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and ancillary services. You will perform front desk duties, schedule appointments, and manage patient data, eligibility, and travel-related processes.

You will use Word, Excel, Vista, and CPRS to maintain records, communicate with patients and staff, and ensure accurate handling of information in a busy clinical environment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in patient care.
• Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests.
• Ability to interact courteously with diverse patients and health care staff.
• Ability to operate office automation software and scheduling systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist with front desk duties, answer calls, and welcome visitors to the clinic or unit.
• Schedule and reschedule patient appointments across multiple clinics.
• Review patient records for required information and verify demographics/insurance.
• Enter, modify, and retrieve patient data in electronic systems and reporting tools.

Skills

Medical terminology

Patient communication

Office software

Data entry/records

Education

High school diploma or GED

Transcript required (if applicable)

Tools

Word

Excel

Vista

CPRS

Job description

The Primary Purpose of the Position is:

To perform administrative and clerical support work relating to the care and treatment given to patients of the inpatient units, outpatient clinics, ancillary support services, scheduling call center, Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) office, Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement office, and Compensation and Pension office at these facilities 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

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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).

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 Determinations

GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4: Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-3). Experience includes, but is not limited to: applying general rules and policies relating to clinic functions, staff, and automated data processing methods in support of treatment to patients; utilize a variety of patient data systems in scheduling patients for treatment and annotates patient records; perform front desk duties, receives telephone call, and visitors to the MSA unit; make and cancel appointments, review patient records for necessary information, and review patient demographics and insurance verification; consult with clinic staff when processing physician scheduling and administrative orders.; OR, Education: One year of education above high school. (Transcript Required).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• (a) Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
• (b) Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.
• (c) Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients.
• (d) Ability to use, and navigate between, various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e., computer systems, web-based scheduling programs; insurance collection system; scanning software, multiple line phone systems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care.

GS-5: Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-4). Experience includes, but is not limited to: scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatment; interviewing patients for appointments; referring patients to other medical specialty clinics; providing information to patients necessary to resolve complaints; interacting with both internal and external customers; reviewing and documenting medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records, as well as administrative records; verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system; obtaining medical information from patients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services; and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.; OR, Education: Two years of education above high school. (Transcript Required).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must 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.

Preferred Experience

• Previous clerical or administrative type work.
• One year experience, operating computer programs, applications and systems (i.e. email, Word, Excel, Vista, CPRS)
• One year of good customer service experience.
• Previous experience receiving and making telephone calls.
• Experience working independently to accomplish duties or tasks.
• Experience resolving, informal/formal complaints from customers.

Reference

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS3 to GS5.

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.