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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a LEAD MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT Near Fort Meade, SD

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/27/2023.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

a. 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 3.g.).

b. Experience and Education.
(1) Experience. 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,
(2) Education. One year above high school;
OR,
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

c. Certification.
None required.

d. 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.

e. Foreign Education.
To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

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

g. 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.


GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-7

1. Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level, Examples of experience may include:

• 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
• Independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established procedures, policies and regulations;
• Communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, 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
• Acquired 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.
• Acquired advanced knowledge of polices 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.
• Acquired advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

AND

2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources.
• Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
• Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect (and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff).
• Ability to provide staff development and training.
• Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.

Assignment: The Lead MSA is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. The Lead MSA is responsible for daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; and determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the unit with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; and acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The position requires long periods of sitting and extensive fine motor skills and exertion to the upper extremities. Daily intermittent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and carrying of lightweight items required. Rigid deadlines and need for high degree of accuracy periodically becomes stressful. There is daily contact with patients; some possibility of physical and/or verbal abuse from emotionally disturbed patients exists. The employee is exposed to communicable disease due to patients being within proximity. Incumbent is expected to practice safe work habits and use ergonomically correct body mechanics to avoid injury.

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

References: VA Handbook 5005/117, PART II, APPENDIX G45

Responsibilities:

Duties include:

• Monitors and makes work assignments;
• Provides input on performance;
• Resolves daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow;
• Assures coverage of all areas of responsibility;
• Conducts ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work;
• Ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments;
• Provides guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures;
• Distributes and balances workload;
• Orients and provides on-the-job training for new and current employees;
• Organizes the work structure of his/her assigned areas;
• Acts as liaison between MSA and staff in order to resolve day to day conflicts.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary