Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Martinsburg, West Virginia

Salary Range: $52934 - $68814 Per Year

Job Summary: The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant in Care in the Community (CITC) at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV. The incumbent's work impacts the administrative aspect of patient care, including access, scheduling/coordinating appointments using advanced clinic access principles, collecting and updating demographic and insurance information, managing the Electronic Waiting List (EWL), patient processing and customer service.

Major Duties:

• The Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) is responsible for assuring that various aspects of staffing, training, compliance, reporting, quality assurance, and budgetary initiatives are met. These activities directly affect the revenue cycle, patient access to care, hospital performance goals and objectives, as well as VHA public image. They plays an integral role in identifying and developing ways to resolve problems with the administrative and clinical staff on access, customer service, patient flow, revenue, and data validation issues. His/her work also impacts processes, action plans, monitoring and reporting. Failure to perform these duties properly could result in the Veteran not receiving the treatment to which he/she is entitled or priority access to care to which he/she is entitled. Any lack of coordination on the part of the employee could negatively impact clinical and/or administrative functions. A large part of the duties is acting as a receptionist, either face-to-face or telephonically, requiring excellent customer service skills. The work requires a high degree of judgment in responding to both employee and patient concerns and providing solutions to process problems as they affect day-to-day operations. The work is mostly sedentary and is performed in an office setting. Patients will have a wide variety of medical conditions, and the employee must be familiar with medical specialties and terminology. May be required to work staggered shifts and/or weekend clinics in support of Advanced Clinic Access initiatives. Duties may include but are not limited to: Serves as a primary administrative support resource for outpatient clinics, independently managing complex scheduling and access activities in accordance with VHA and local policies. Performs receptionist duties, both face-to-face and telephonically, including ACD/call room scheduling coverage, providing courteous, timely, and Veteran-centered customer service while safeguarding privacy and confidentiality. Screens and receives incoming calls, determines the nature of requests, and provides accurate information or resolution using established clinic processes and privacy regulations. Using VHA approved scheduling and appointment applications, coordinates, schedules, reschedules, and cancels appointments using advanced access principles; adjusts appointment times, dates, or locations to support contingency plans related to staffing shortages or provider availability. Shifts patients to alternate providers or clinics as needed to ensure continuity of care and compliance with mandated access standards. x Manages and performs daily reviews of active and pending consults, ICBWeb, VA Online Scheduling (VAOS), Open Slot Management (OSM) Audiocare communications to ensure accuracy, proper disposition, and timely follow-up as well as end-of-day review of no-show and/or patient cancellation reports and disposition accordingly. Collects, verifies, and updates Veteran demographic, verifies eligibility, and insurance information to support accurate billing, reporting, and revenue cycle activities. Notifies supervisors or clinic leadership when clinic access is suboptimal or when Veterans cannot be scheduled within required timeframes. x Participates in daily team huddles and weekly team meetings focused on patient care planning and management, except when clinic coverage requirements necessitate absence. Coordinates administrative services for Veterans, family members, caregivers, the general public, and interdisciplinary staff to ensure continuity of inpatient and outpatient care. Ensures receipt, processing, and integration of medical and administrative records into the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), including initiating scanning when required. Interprets and applies a complex body of laws, regulations, directives, and policies governing VA health care benefits and administrative operations. Develops and maintains effective working relationships with clinical and administrative staff to establish priorities and support direct patient care. Assists with workload distribution among Clinical Support Section employees in accordance with established workflows or job specialization to ensure timely completion of work. Provides guidance, direction, and oversight of Clinical Support Section employees in the absence of the supervisor. Participates in performance improvement, access management, and quality assurance initiatives to enhance clinic operations and Veteran satisfaction. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 24057-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo

Qualifications: 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience. No experience required. Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Licensure/Certification: None required 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). 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 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:(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 the standard.(3) 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: GS-6 In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level; Experience is defined as experience that includes, but is 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 (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, etc.). Assignment: The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics, and makes adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams , VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.). Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate; participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage, plan, problem solve, and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers; as needed; assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions; enters appropriate information into the electronic record; monitors preappointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure; manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment; informs team members about shared patients (i.e)., those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community. 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: i. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines. ii. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations. iii. Ability to provide staff development and training. iv. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage priorities, and coordinate with staff in the unit in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work. v. Ability to review and monitor data to ensure all reports are complete and accurate. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. CRITICAL Shortage LIST OIG: 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to hybrid title 38 occupations among those reported to have the largest staffing shortages.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12951009. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 05/04/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-04