Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

The purpose of this position is to serve as an Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) at a VA Togus Healthcare System. The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of assignments and provides administrative support to the assigned section. Work is performed collaboratively in a Interdisciplinary Coordinate Care delivery model (Patient Aligned Care Team or Specialty Care Setting).

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Supports clinics regarding clinic profile management.
• Collects and updates insurance information from Veterans family members and other eligible patients.
• Prepares correspondence and memos as needed.
• Screens/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner determine the nature of request and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes.
• Ensures data is entered into VISTA accurately and scans documents into VISTA Imaging within 24 hours of entering the data into VISTA if applicable.
• Promotes Veterans registration for and utilization of MyHealthyVet (MHV) and kiosks usage.
• Follows procedures regarding Community Care referrals.
• Serves as the initial point of contact for units clinics patients call centers Care in the Community regarding various aspects of patient appointments and referrals.
• Stocks basic office supplies for the executive suite.
• Enters Veterans seeking emergent/urgent care scheduling appointments accurately.
• Pre-Registers Veterans during check-in and utilizing call lists and telephones Veterans before their scheduled visits. Incumbent updates all patient demographics.
• Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive emotional and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient.
• Assures that all appropriate VA forms are used correctly and regulations followed.
• Additional duties or tasks may be assigned by the supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations.

• THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS which closes on 06/15/2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be on or about December 1 2025 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur or on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Please see the What To Expect Next area of the announcement which provides additional information on the referral process for this type of announcement.
• This position may be covered by a special rate.
• There may not be a vacancy at a listed location. Applicants for those locations will be added to our applicant pool if one should occur.
• Applicants may be referred over for consideration prior to the close date of this announcement.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOCs.
• Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title series grade step tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).

• 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.

Qualifications

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 or Experience: One year above high school; OR 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 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: Medical Support Assistants appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Grandfathering Provision: 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 for 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:(1) Such employees may be reassigned promoted or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.(2) 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 this standard.(3) If an employee 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.

1. Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. medical doctors nurse practitioners physician assistants psychologists psychiatrists social workers clinical pharmacists and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met.
2. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines ensuring compliance with established processes policies and regulations.
3. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively electronically by phone in person and in writing with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels as well as resolving patient concerns.
4. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including but not limited to scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care.
5. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow and patient support care administrative functions to include but not limited to appointment cycles outside patient referrals follow-up care overbooking provider availability etc.
6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.