Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks; Fayetteville (AR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal health benefits

Job summary

The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR is seeking a Medical Support Assistant to support the Emergency Department, inpatient wards, and clinic reception. You will assist with benefits applications, data entry, and coordinating patient information.

This role emphasizes front-desk responsibilities, interdepartmental communication, and adherence to VA scheduling guidelines in a busy medical center setting.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen to apply.
• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Pre-employment physical evaluation required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as receptionist for the Emergency Department, Inpatient Wards, Reception, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
• Interview Veterans and prepare applications for medical benefits.
• Answer incoming calls and relay messages to staff.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule appointments per scheduling guidelines.

Skills

Interviews Veterans

Typing

Customer service

Phone processing

Scheduling appointments

Job description

Summary

The Medical Support Assistant is in the Health Administration Service of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Major Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position serves as the Support Clerk for the Emergency Department, Inpatient Wards, Reception, as well as the Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

The MSA serves as the receptionist for all persons reporting for medical care or for general specific information and will direct persons to the proper source of information for various clinics and / or services located throughout the Medical Center.

• Interviews Veterans and prepares applications for medical benefits.
• Performs typing and computer entry functions as necessary
• Prepare patient data cards
• Performs inpatient admission processing ensuring proper identification of patient
• Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes
• Answers incoming phone calls from patients to answer questions and relay messages to appropriate medical staff
• Participates in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff
• Schedules, cancels and reschedules appointments or consults including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Interprets and verifies provider orders
• Monitors appointment requests from multiple electronic sources
• Coordinates administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities or private hospitals and determines appointment type based on the patient’s eligibility status (e.g., TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.)

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday, subject to change based on the needs of the service.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

• 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 #: 01610-F, 01611-F, 01612-F
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title Description of duties Beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment Average hours worked per week. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
• Documentation Requirements for Proof of High School Completion or higher: If using post-high school education to substitute for experience at the GS-04 or GS-05, you must submit a copy of your unofficial or official college transcript with your application. If selected, to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended, applicants must provide one of the following as verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfathering provision: 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)
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA)
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1) Performance Appraisal SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
• Selections from this announcement will be made without regard to Veterans preference in accordance with OCHCO Bulletin dated 09/25/2025.

Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.