Medical Support Assistant (Adv

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks Medical Support Assistants (MSAs) for the Pacific Islands Health Care System, including Outpatient clinics and CBOCs. MSAs provide technical support that enables clinicians to deliver patient care and manage patient flow effectively.

Proficiency in English is required; no advanced education beyond high school is needed. Applicants should be able to coordinate with a wide range of medical staff and maintain compliance with VA policies.

Qualifications

• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians and internal/external customers.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other clinicians to facilitate patient care and flow.
• Set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines in accordance with policies and regulations.
• Prepare reports and present data to diverse organizational levels.

Skills

Collaboration

Prioritization

Communication

Healthcare process knowledge

Care delivery policies

Medical terminology

Education

High school diploma / GED

Job description

Medical Support Assistants (MSAs)

The Medical Support Assistants (MSAs), assigned to Pacific Islands Health Care System to include its Outpatient clinics and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), are 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. MSAs are considered chief sources of patient care and patient flow information.

Basic Requirements

A. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

B. Experience and Education. Experience. No experience required.

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

Note: Supporting documentation is required to verify the basic education requirement. Applicants using education beyond a high school diploma or GED must submit transcripts. Applicants claiming the basic requirement based solely on a high school, GED, or certificate of completion must submit a copy of the applicable diploma or certificate. Failure to provide the required documentation may result in disqualification.

C. English Language Proficiency. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.

D. Grandfathering Provision. 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).

E. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

F. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements -

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level -Positions at the GS-5 grade level require two years above high school or some equivalent experience.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• i. Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met.
• ii. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• iii. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, as well as resolving patient concerns.
• iv. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including, but not limited to, scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care.
• v. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow, and patient support care [administrative functions] to include, but not limited to appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc.
• vi. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range is GS-06.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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