Lead Medical Support Assistant

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Lead Medical Support Assistant. The Lead Medical Support Assistant will function in Patient Care Administrative Service, Ambulatory Care & Processing (AC&P).

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements below within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement.

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.
• Education. One year above high school.
• Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are accepted.

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).

All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, [which] are [a] part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or [changed to a lower grade] within the occupation.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• If an employee who was converted to [Title] 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations

Specialized Experience GS-07

You must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service to qualify for GS-07 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Lead Medical Support Assistant.

Examples of specialized experience include: one year of Community Care experience; implementing national programs like Veterans Choice and/or VA Mission Act and working with Third Party Administrators; scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model such as Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT); developing effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and other agencies; participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of work to meet team and patient needs; may work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic record.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's)

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources.
• Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
• Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect [and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
• Ability to provide staff development and training.
• Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-0679-7.

Physical Requirements

The work of this position is primarily sedentary working closely with others or alone. There may be some walking, standing, bending, kneeling, carrying of light items under 15 pounds, reaching above the shoulder, driving an automobile, etc. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The physical requirements of this position are concerned with the mental/emotional and physical ability of the incumbent to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and may include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by VA Directive 5019.