Medical Support Assistant (Primary Care)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Caldwell (ID); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The VA Boise Healthcare System is seeking a Medical Support Assistant at the GS-3/4/5 level for the Caldwell, ID Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

The role supports patient care through scheduling, data entry and strong customer service. Basic requirements include a high school diploma, English proficiency, and U.S. citizenship where required; no prior experience is needed.

Qualifications

• No experience required; basic requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• English language proficiency and United States citizenship where applicable.
• Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VA employees in this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Assist in patient care coordination and communication with staff.
• Schedule medical appointments and manage related records.
• Record patient messages and relay physician requests for follow-up care.

Skills

Operate computerized systems

Medical terminology

Schedule appointments

Independent work

Effective communication

Customer service

Education

High school diploma / GED

Tools

EHR software

Job description

The VA Boise Healthcare System is looking to fill a Medical Support Assistants at the GS 3/4/5 level at the Caldwell, ID Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) location.

The list generated from this announcement can be used for up to 90 days. 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.
• English Language Proficient.
• 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.

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

GS-3 MSA (Entry Level)

Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 MSA (Developmental Level)

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-3).

OR

Education: One year of education above high school.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
4. Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.

GS-5 MSA (Full Performance Level)

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4)

OR

Education: Two years of education above high school.

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

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 basic 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.

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.