The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant in the Business Office for the Memphis VA Medical Center and will provide support to the Inpatient Ward, Emergency Room, Baggage Claims, Environmental Care and Call Center. These positions are part of an integral team used to carry out the day-to-day administrative operations of the assigned location.
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 and Education. 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, Education. One year above high school; OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None required. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-05 Medical Support Assistant (Full Performance Level) One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4 grade) which is experience in 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 Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position. Note: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to Medical Support Assistant experience or an equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting.--OR Four years of education above high school AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Preferred Experience: None Note: You must provide detailed information of your experience performed. Information such as "I was a Medical Support Assistant" is insufficient to determine your qualifications. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. 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 the GS-5. Physical Requirements: Operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one time. Work is generally sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items. Work Environment: The work may be stressful due to the accelerated pace for several hours at a time during peak hours or on days that have a large volume of activity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
This is an Open Continuous Announcement until September 30, 2026. The initial cut-off-date for referral eligible applications will be a January 29,2026. Applications will be referred as requested until vacancies are filled. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Medical Support Assistant performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information. In addition to face-to-face interactions with the Veteran(s} and/or Veteran's family, the incumbent will interface with personal computer(PC) applications as well as numerous Vista applications. The MSA works as a member of a collaborative team with other health care members. Important interfaces and collaborations also occur with larger health care system providers including VA and non-VA specialists, hospital, diagnostic and treating facilities, and community-based programs. The MSA is responsible for scheduling discharge orders, admission and discharging of patients and answering the operation phone system for the VA. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines, scheduling, cancelling, re-scheduling patients appointments and/or consults, entering no-show information, preparing for clinic visits, monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibilities, daily review of encounters forms are completed by the appropriate clinic staff in order to obtain appropriate workload credit, verifying and updating demographics and insurance information, performing basic eligibility, co-pays and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage. They also encourage and support enrollment/authentication of Veterans in MyHealthy vet Program. Incumbent assists with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointments times, locations, or dates as well as shift patients to other healthcare providers as conflict with staffing and or coverage occurs. Incumbent is able to communication the VA's mandate to collect insurance information from Veterans, and their families, and other eligible patients. This position obtains medical information from patients, coordinates information and actions related to patient care and service at each interface. This MSA also refers all questions requiring immediate medical attention to appropriate health care team members. Incumbent logs and keeps track of any information left, lost, or found in the hospital. Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers {patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Work Schedule: Multiple tours of duty available. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: May be approved on an ad-hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50383-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized