Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Parental Leave

Retirement: Federal pension

Job summary

The Medical Support Assistant role is within the Health Administration Service of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, based at Fayetteville, Arkansas, with duties anchored at the Fort Smith Outpatient Clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The position emphasizes scheduling, patient data integrity, and coordination with nurses and physicians to support timely and effective veteran care within standard federal working hours.

Qualifications

• Experience with scheduling appointments and verifying patient demographics.
• Familiarity with medical records and insurance information.
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients and clinical staff.

Responsibilities

• Schedule appointments and manage the Electronic Waiting List.
• Verify and update patient demographics and insurance details.
• Coordinate transfers to VA facilities or private hospitals as needed.
• Handle eligibility, co-pays, and preauthorization requirements.
• Explain test prep and procedures to patients for accurate scheduling.
• Provide courteous customer service per VA policies.

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. Position is physically located at the Fort Smith Outpatient Clinic in Fort Smith - Arkansas.

Summary

The Medical Support Assistant is in the Health Administration Service of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks located in Fayetteville - Arkansas. Position is physically located at the Fort Smith Outpatient Clinic in Fort Smith - Arkansas.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The primary duties of the Medical Support Assistant (MSA) may include but are not limited to: Scheduling appointments - including interpreting - and verifying provider orders - assignments - ensuring encounter forms are completed to obtain appropriate workload credit
• verifying and updating demographics and insurance information
• processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals
• performing basic eligibility - co-pays - and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage
• Interpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities
• Schedule appointments by following VHA Outpatient Scheduling Directive and will follow Standard Operating Procedures
• Utilize the Electronic Waiting List accurately in a timely manner
• Notifies his/her supervisor when clinic access is less than desirable or if an individual patient cannot be scheduled within mandated clinic timeframes
• Daily review of Consults (medical/provider) - active/pending text orders - Encounter reports - Electronic Wait List - Recall list and Audio care communications for accuracy and disposition
• Initiates patient appointments through (VSE/CPRS) by use of the scheduling menus to schedule lab - x-ray - and EKG tests with other clinical services - necessary for physician clinics
• Incumbent explains necessary test preparation to patients and records information such as date - exam type - and procedure required on appointment card
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for return visits and future appointments to reduce multiple trips for Veteran
• Ensures clinics are blocked when physicians are on leave or for scheduled meetings/training to prevent patient cancellations
• Utilize Recall Reminder Software policies when scheduling is beyond the 30-day request
• Utilize no show/missed opportunity rules by the Standard Operating Procedures stated in Appointment Management document
• Utilizes a computer-generated appointment list to complete daily clinic activities making additions and deletions as necessary for computer entry upon completion of clinic
• Manages the telephone triage and carefully and briefly questions Veterans about medical problems and determines if any emergency situations exist by following the trigger word policy MCM-11-090 i.e. - chest pain - shortness of breath - blackouts - GI bleeding or any medical need for immediate attention - working closely with the team nurses and physician
• Manages scheduling - medical data - and patient movement to bypass the usual waiting time and ensures that appropriate administrative actions are taken
• Provides excellent customer service and must adhere to VA Local - National and Service policies and procedures
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• 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 #: 564-01609-F
• 564-01610-F
• 564-01611-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized