Lead Medical Support Assistant

Summary This position is located within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VISN 7, VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS), serving as the Lead Medical Support Assistant (Non-PACT) for either the Emergency Department (ED) and the Inpatient Ward Department. The Lead MSA serves as the lead clerk for all MSAs in these high-acuity, fast-paced clinical environments and is responsible for carrying out a wide variety of administrative and technical duties in direct support of patient care operations. Responsibilities VA Careers - Lead Medical Support Assistant: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Typical duties may include, but are not limited to: The Lead MSA (Non-PACT) coordinates the activities and workflow of Advanced and full-performance MSAs in interdisciplinary ED and inpatient settings. The lead MSA is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. The Lead MSA is responsible for the daily workload assessments, assigning work, assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; and determining training needs of MSAs to provider support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the unit with complex and non-standards procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties and/or community resources. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, including changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflict. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity difficulty and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Conducts daily workload assessments, assigns responsibilities, ensures proper staffing coverage, evaluates training records, identifies training needs, provides direct training, guides staff on policies, creates schedules, and liaises among teams to resolve operational issues. Ensures timely and accurate scheduling across ED observation, inpatient consults, add-ons, walk-ins, RTC orders, VAOS, and recall systems. Reviews daily accuracy of RTC, VAOS, encounters, and insurance capture. Ensures documents are scanned to CPRS, manages calls professionally, participates in huddles and meetings, monitors staffing, and assists in contingency planning. Reviews MSA work for accuracy, ensures proper use of systems, prevents delays in care by addressing workflow gaps, and ensures scanning procedures are completed daily. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30a-4pm, wknds and holidays included 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:F00559 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. English Language Proficiency: Applicants appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English. Experience: Six months experience of clerical, office or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; or Education: A high school diploma with desire for some post high school education OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. 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-6] grade level. The Lead MSA is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. The Lead MSA is responsible for daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; and determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the unit with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; and acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.] For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Preferred Experience: Demonstrated experience providing leadership, guidance, or daily direction to MSAs or AMSAs. Experience assigning, balancing, and monitoring workload, including managing coverage during absences or high volume periods. Skill in training, mentoring, onboarding, and conducting competency checks for administrative staff. Strong communication skills with clinical providers, nursing, leadership, and administrative departments. Familiarity with ICB Insurance Capture Buffer system. Experience in scheduling, encounter resolution, and ensuring compliance with VHA scheduling policies. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-7 Physical Requirements: The work of this position is primarily sedentary in an office setting, primarily while seated working closely with others or alone. There may be some walking, standing, bending, kneeling, lifting no more than 35 pounds, reaching above shoulder, driving an automobile, etc. The work environment typically involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of a medical office and/or meeting or training room. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.