Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 39,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) to support physicians, nurses, and care teams.

The role focuses on patient flow information, administrative guidance, and essential office tasks in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Responsibilities include answering phones, greeting patients, scheduling appointments, updating demographics/insurance, and handling various clerical duties as part of the clinic team.

Qualifications

• Answer phones and greet patients promptly.
• Relay messages to staff and schedule appointments.
• Verify demographics and insurance data at check-in.

Responsibilities

• Perform clerical tasks to support patient care teams.
• Schedule, cancel, and adjust appointments and referrals.
• Process clinic communications and manage electronic documents.

Skills

Phone etiquette

Appointment scheduling

Patient intake

Docs processing

Tools

Word processing

Job description

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is responsible for performing a variety of technical support duties that facilitate the work of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nursing assistants, and other members of the medical facility who provide direct patient care. The MSA are considered chief sources of patient care and patient flow information. The MSA is a key member of the patient care team providing crucial administrative advice and guidance.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information.
• Monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources; participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic, monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility.
• Verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments.
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automations functions such as scanning, storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Screens and receives phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determines the nature of request and provides the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge patients as needed on the Inpatient Units and conducts Means Tests, verifies eligibility for benefits requirements, updates demographic information, and directs patients in compassionate caring manner.
• Responsible for following through on providers' orders including scheduling appropriate consultation requests, labs, x-rays and various other specialty clinics available at the CBOC.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 1st Shift, 2nd Shift and 3rd Shift available and will be discussed during the interview process.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authroized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 08099F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements