Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Lyons (NJ); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) (Intermittent) at VA New Jersey Healthcare System supports Community Care from the Business Office on the East Orange or Lyons Campus. The MSA coordinates care for a beneficiary panel in collaboration with providers, registered nurses, mental health, clinical pharmacists, and other staff.

Applicants with pending education or certification may be referred but cannot be hired until requirements are met.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to assist in patient care coordination and follow-up.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• Experience with medical terminology is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care for beneficiary panels with a multidisciplinary team.
• Record patient messages and relay physician requests for follow-up care.
• Manage scheduling and access to internal/external clinics.
• Handle patient information and communications professionally.

Skills

Medical terminology

Patient messaging

Office software

Scheduling

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Scheduling software

Electronic health records

Office automation systems

Job description

This position serves as the Medical Support Assistant (MSA) (Intermittent) for Community Care located in the Business Office of VA New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange or Lyons Campus. The MSA is responsible for coordinating the care of a beneficiary panel in conjunction with multiple members (providers, registered nurses, mental health, clinical pharmacists and licensed practical nurse, community care providers, and PPMS network).

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: None.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration: None.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• 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: Medical Support Assistant, GS-03. Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Medical Support Assistant, GS-04. Experience or Education.
  • (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
  • OR (b) Education. One year of education above high school.
• Medical Support Assistant, GS-05. Experience or Education.
  • (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR (b) Education. Two years of education above high school.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• For Medical Support Assistant, GS-03:
  • (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.
• For Medical Support Assistant, GS-05:
  • (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.

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-3 to GS-5.

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-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.