Medical Support Assistant at Mount Vernon

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN):928254 

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who served our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your Countrys service.

 

If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA. The VA is committed to hiring Veterans. The VA is commited to hiring Veterans. The VA is much more than just another employer. It is an honorable, open and welcoming community of those dwho care. gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission.

 

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (“I CARE”)

Americas Veterans need you! To find out more, go to http://www.va.gov/jobs/.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

 

Note: 

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5.  The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Background and-or Security Investigation required
• Pre-employment physical exam required

DUTIES:Back to top

Note:

This is a Bargaining Unit position

Mulitiple vacancies with various shifts and locations available. 

 

Duties: The Medical Support Assistant serves a foundational role within the VHA Patient-Aligned Care Teams transformation initiative. Patient care is delivered in a team based model known as the teamlet. Members of the teamlet include the MSA, a Registered Nurse Care Manager, a Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse and a primary care provider. The teamlet provides the majority of the healthcare needs for an assigned panel of patients. The teamlet works collaboratively with other members of an expanded health care primary care team including pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, behavioral health staff, etc. to provide a robust interdisciplinary approach to care. Important interfaces and collaborations also occur with larger health care system providers including VA and non VA specialists, hospitals, diagnostic and treating facilities, and community based programs. Performs the duties and responsibilities of a Medical Support Assistant in the General Medicine Service Line clinics at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPCHSC). The duties of this position are performed on a regular and recurring basis in primary care areas. The position may be located at the Seattle or American Lake Division or any of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bremerton, WA; Port Angeles, WA; and Mount Vernon, WA.

 BASIC REQUIREMENTS.  

1. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.)  

2. Experience and Education (1) Experience. Six months experience of clerical, office or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position.

3. Education. One year above high school.

4. Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable

5. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 

6.  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.

 

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Creditable Experience

 1. Knowledge of Current MSA Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MSA.

2.  Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

3.  Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MSA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.  

Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

 

 GS-3 MSA Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment: This is an entry level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

 

GS-4 MSAExperience 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.

Assignment. This is a developmental level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more difficult tasks and require frequent and direct contact from the assigned lead and/or supervisor. Assignments at this 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 schedulingappointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. The MSA refers all questions requiring immediate medical attention to appropriate health care team member.

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

1. 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 complete job assignments.

2. Ability to use various types of office automation equipment and software.

3. Ability to set up, organize, and maintain record systems.

 

GS-5 MSA

Experience or Education: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or 4 years of education above high school.  

Assignment: This is the full performance level for MSAs. At this level, the MSA performs a full range of duties. The MSA is responsible for scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. 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 preauthorization requirements for specific coverage (i.e.,TRICARE, sharing agreements, etc.).

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

1. Ability to operate computerized programs and databases in order to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information/data into or from electronic medical records, scheduling systems and/or reports. 2. Knowledge of basic medical terminology.

3. Ability to make appointments in a clinical setting.

4. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties, including setting priorities and coordinating work.  

5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

6. Ability to identify customer’s concerns, perform the tasks required to resolve the issue accurately and timely, and follow-up as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

1. Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.)

2. Experience and Education: Six months experience of clerical, office or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position.

3. Education: One year above high school.

4. Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable

5.Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 6. 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.

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  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.

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

 

Country: USA, State: Washington, City: Mount Vernon, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.