Medical Support Assistant

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include but not limited to:

• Schedules appointments including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Plans and organizes work general assistance from the supervisor as to meet local and VA - wide time frames to complete analysis requirements reports and special assignments.
• Reports backlogs difficulties in meeting deadlines uncooperative physicians or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the record.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties.
• Communicates with physicians case managers and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 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 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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.

• 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.

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. None; OR
  • Education. High school diploma General Education Development equivalency certificate or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education; 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.

• Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

• Experience. To qualify at this level candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.; OR
• Education. One year of education above high school AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  • Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients.
  • Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics.
  • Ability to meet communicate and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients.
  • Ability to use and navigate between various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e. computer systems web-based scheduling programs; insurance collection system; scanning software multiple line phone systems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care.

• Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level; OR
• Education. Two years of education above high school. AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  • Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
  • Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns and refer to the appropriate staff as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution.
  • 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.
  • 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.