Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fort Thomas (KY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) to provide administrative support to clinicians within the Mental Health Care Line.

The role ensures timely and accurate completion of duties to allow physicians and staff to focus on patient care, while helping the team meet daily objectives. Responsibilities include coordinating clinic utilization, admitting and discharging patients, assisting with travel requests, and maintaining follow-up care tracking.

Qualifications

• Requires knowledge of healthcare processes and scheduling across care delivery models.
• Ability to communicate with clinical staff and external partners.
• Proficiency in handling patient information and administrative duties.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate clinic utilization and adjust clinic setup as needed.
• Assist with admissions/discharges for residential and inpatient units.
• Support travel requests and secure messaging between patients and care team.
• Maintain tracking for follow-up care and lab results.

Skills

Scheduling

Interdisciplinary

Communication

Documentation

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Summary

The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) provides administrative support to the clinical staff within the Mental Health Care Line (MHCL). This role ensures that administrative functions are completed accurately and in a timely manner - allowing physicians and other clinical staff to focus on delivering quality patient care. The position also supports the team in meeting its objectives and maintaining efficient day-to-day operations.

Qualifications

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
• Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and registration/certification where applicable
• For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (2) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/ placements
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
• Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) - GS-06
• Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in thecommunity operational activities that affect patient flow - and patient support care administrative functions to include - but not limited toappointment cycles - outside patient referrals - follow-up care -overbooking - provider availability - etc
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
• 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
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations
• 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
• 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-6. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary
• The incumbent is required to sit for various lengths or time as well as some bending - walking - and lifting
• Must be able to operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one time.

Duties

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Duties for the Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) include but are not limited to: Works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.e. - Mental Health Care Line Outpatient/Residential units
• Coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g. - Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary) - ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic - and make any necessary adjustments
• Admits and discharges patients to both Residential and Inpatient Units along with working closely with outside organizations to secure medical care for our patients Serves as subject matter expert in rules and regulations of FED Traveler and assists the clinicians in completing their travel requests
• Develop/maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary team - VA medical centers - and other agencies (e.g. - assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge
• communicate with non-VA medical facilities
• facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team
• notify patients of normal lab results
• develop and manage a tracking system for follow up care such as consults - tests - etc.)
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm - 9:00am-5:30pm
• Other work schedules may be available depending on the needs of the agency
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92729-A