Medical Support Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is seeking a Medical Support Assistant (GS-5) in the Business Office. The role provides clerical and administrative support to physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff, and may work in the Call Center, Urgent Care, or multidisciplinary teams as needed.

Applicants must meet basic requirements (US citizenship and a high school diploma or equivalent). The KSAs emphasize medical terminology, customer service, EHR data entry, appointment

Qualifications

• Experience with medical terminology to understand diagnoses and procedures.
• Excellent customer service skills to resolve patient concerns.
• Ability to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive patient information in electronic health records.
• Experience scheduling medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently across a wide range of duties.
• Strong professional communication with internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Perform clerical and administrative duties to support physicians and nursing staff.
• Input and retrieve patient data in electronic health records and scheduling systems.
• Schedule and coordinate medical appointments in a clinical setting.

Skills

Medical terminology

Customer service

EHR data entry

Scheduling appointments

Independent work

Professional communication

Education

High school diploma / GED

Tools

EHR systems

Scheduling software

Microsoft Office

Job description

This position is in the Business Office at the VA Medical Center. 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 others. The MSA performs clerical and administrative work. The incumbent may work in the Call Center, Urgent Care, or in an interdisciplinary care team within a primary care team or specialty clinic on an infrequent basis.

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.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.

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). Medical Support Assistant, GS-05.

Experience or Education.

Experience.

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade;

OR

Education.

Two years of education above high school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
2. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.
3. 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.
4. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
5. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
6. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers

Licensure/Certification/Registration.

None.

Grade Determinations

Medical Support Assistant, GS-05.

Reference:

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5.

Physical Requirements:

The work is mostly sedentary. It typically requires sitting with sustained periods of concentration. There will be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of relatively light objects. The position may also require stooping, reaching, lifting, pulling, and other moderate exertion or strain. Incumbent may occasionally have to walk some distance to a meeting.