Medical Support Assistant

Puget Sound VA Health Care System is looking to fill a Medical Support Assistant position at the Edmonds, WA and Port Angeles, WA Community Based Outreach Clinic.

The list of qualified applicants will be kept for 90 days if other vacancies arise.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized for new Federal appointees, in accordance with agency policy.

Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this 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.
• 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

Preferred Experience: One-year experienceworking in a medical or clinic setting, scheduling appointments, referring patients to specialty clinics, collecting insurance documentation, documentation in electronic health records, and advanced medical terminology

• Grade Determinations:GS-5 MSA (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (experience working in a medical or clinic setting, scheduling appointments, referring patients to specialty clinics, collecting insurance documentation, documentation in electronic health records, and advanced medical terminology) or 4 years of education above high school (must provide Transcripts if using Education to qualify)

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

• Ability to operate computerized programs and systems to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information/data into or from electronic medical records, scheduling systems and/or reports.
• Advanced knowledge of basic medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Ability to make 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.
• Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/53 Appendix G45.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, however may require periods of standing and walking. There aren't any physical requirements for the 0679 occupational series.

Responsibilities:

Duties:
Medical Support Assistants provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans. Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely, accurate, accessible health care. VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand, believe in and take pride in VA's mission. MSAs are essential to the success of this mission.

GS-5: This is the full performance level MSA position. The MSA is responsible for scheduling appointments in accordance with national scheduling guidelines, including interpreting and verifying provider orders. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverage.

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm *Available shifts will be discussed during the interview process.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required