Medical Support Assistant

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for Medical Support Assistant that will function within Community Outpatient Service at the Ravenna Oh Clinic. The MSA is responsible for performing a variety of technical support duties that facilitate the work of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nursing assistants, and other members of the medical facility who provide direct patient care. The MSA performs clerical work in support of the care and treatment given to patients.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary care delivery model, utilizing effective organizing, problem solving and decision making abilities to perform receptionist, customer service, and administrative duties to ensure the proper and timely treatment of patients.
• Maintain appointment schedules - scheduling, rescheduling and cancelling appointments
• Providing reception to incoming and outgoing customers and communications
• Manual and electronic data entry
• Reviewing and updating patient demographics and insurance verification
• Providing administrative support to clinical colleagues
• Receiving and directing phone calls in a courteous and timely manner
• Determining nature of requests and providing the information desired without violating privacy rules and established clinic processes
• Requesting medical records from community healthcare facilities
• Monitors intra and inter facility consults through completion.
• Contacting patients with appointment reminders

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

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 # : 91460A, 91461A, 91462A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 : GS-3 Medical Support Assistant (Entry Level)Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Medical Support Assistant (Developmental Level)Experience or Education. One year of experience in clerical or office work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position or two years of education above high school.

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

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate [all of] the KSAs below:

1. Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals from varyingbackgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpfulmanner in order to [facilitate medical care for patients].

2.Ability to use, [and navigate between], various types of office automationequipment and software [(i.e. computer systems, web based schedulingprograms; insurance collection system; scanning software, multiple line phonesystems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care].

3.[Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care topatients].

4. [Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requestspertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.]

GS-5 (Full Performance Level)Experience or Education: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or 4 years of education above high school. Assignments at the GS-4 level include but are not limited to: interacting with both internal and external customers; establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrative records; verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system; obtaining medical information from patients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services; and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): The candidate's application/resume will be rated against 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 orfrom electronic [health] records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.

2.[Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medicaldiagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions topatients.]

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, [andrefer] to the [appropriate staff], as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. Some walking between buildings to other offices carrying/lifting small and/or lightweight items. Work involves working with computers and office equipment. Long periods of sitting and telephone calling.

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.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.

2. All other VA employees.

3. All other applicants.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.