Medical Support Assistant OCA

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs in Charleston, SC is seeking a Medical Support Assistant to support patient flow in a clinical setting. The role involves answering phones, greeting patients, routing messages, and assisting with scheduling under VA guidelines.

The position requires basic clerical experience for GS-5 eligibility, with duties including processing orders, maintaining patient data, and ensuring smooth front-desk operations.

Qualifications

• Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work.
• Four years above high school education, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education.

Responsibilities

• Answer phones and greet patients.
• Relay messages to appropriate staff.
• Schedule appointments according to guidelines.
• Interpret and verify provider orders in accordance with scheduling guidelines.

Skills

Clerical experience

Customer service

Office administration

Education

Four years above high school

Job description

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2027 or until all positions are filled.

The Medical Support Assistant is responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit], scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

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 and Education:
  • (1) Experience - Six months experience of clerical, office, [customer service], or other [administrative] work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; or
  • (2) Education -Four years above high school; or
  • (3) Experience/Education - Equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 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 3j.

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

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level; OR Four years above high school.

KSAs

In addition to the Basic Requirements defined above, the incumbent must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

References: For additional information, please refer to VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G45 Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards, GS-0679, dated August 1, 2019. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

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