What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Medical Support Assistant position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Lead Medical Support Assistant serves in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service Department at the Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System - Omaha - Nebraska. The Lead MSA provides expertise - guidance and direction and has responsibilities related to providing administrative support - coordination - and technical assistance in the planning - development - and maintenance of an effective - comprehensive and integrated programs at this medical center.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/14/2026. Medical Support Assistant
Basic Requirements
The Lead Medical Support Assistant serves in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service Department at the Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System - Omaha - Nebraska. The Lead MSA provides expertise - guidance and direction and has responsibilities related to providing administrative support - coordination - and technical assistance in the planning - development - and maintenance of an effective - comprehensive and integrated programs at this medical center.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/14/2026. Medical Support Assistant
Basic Requirements
- Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
- (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance to 38 U.S.C.
- 7407(a)
- Experience and Education: Experience: No experience required
- OR 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/Registration: None required
- 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: Such employees may be reassigned - promoted - or changed to a lower grade within the occupation
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
- 7403(f)
- Grade Determinations: Knowledge of MSA Practices: To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting
- Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting
- Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting 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 varieties as described in this standard - at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
- Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship for the full-time workweek
- For example - an MSA employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service
- In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements - candidates must possess the required specialized experience and be able to demonstrate all Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs) as summarized below
- Experience
- One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level
- 1
- Ability to 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
- 2
- Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations
- 3
- Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively - electronically - by phone - in person - 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
- 4
- 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
- 5
- Advanced knowledge of policies 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
- 6
- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
- AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
- Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1
- 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
- 2
- Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting
- 3
- Ability to organize work - set priorities - and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines
- 4
- Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff
- 5
- Ability to provide staff development and training
- 6
- 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
- References: Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II Appendix G45
- Effective Date: 8/1/2019
- Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard
- GS-7 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7 Physical Requirements: The position requires no special physical demands - but will require some physical effort such as standing - walking - bending - and sitting
- 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.
- VA Careers - Lead Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/UJO_XH5uCLs Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
- Repayment is limited to $40 -000 annually - up to $100 -000 in lifetime awards
- Participants must sign a three-year service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program
- Contact VHAV23SLRP@va.gov for more information
- The LMSA within Audiology & Speech Pathology Services (ASP) will assist in planning and development of necessary procedures - schedules - and activities to ensure compliance with department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Office Directives
- The Incumbent ensures that workplace issues identified in Audiology & Speech Pathology Services are carried out to an appropriate resolution and that required reports are submitted in a timely manner
- The incumbent is skilled in project management - time management and process improvement - which includes the ability to develop new or improved solutions to complex technical problems
- They work closely with all of ASP leadership and/or designee to ensure standardized practices are being followed
- They are responsible for the assigned workload within the section and assistance with coverage for employee work schedules
- The incumbent monitors the progress of work and makes adjustments on a priority basis to ensure timeliness measures are met
- The incumbent reports to the supervisor on employee performance - process errors - training needs - and disciplinary issues
- Advises the supervisor of any backlog that will require additional manpower or overtime to resolve
- Major duties include (but not limited to): Managing consult services assigned per guidelines Participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care
- Setting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs
- Create authorizations for episodes of care prior to care being received
- Schedule appointments - per the scheduling policy - accurately and in a timely manner
- Participating in and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings
- Performing administrative follow up actions
- Independently following up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the medical team to assure continuity of care
- Collaborate - communicate - set priorities - and organize the work of the unit in order to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - directives - and regulations
- Utilize advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care
- Have knowledge to manage the assigned segment of the clinic - to include independently utilizing reference sources - decision making - and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems
- Use advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow - patient care - and the revenue process
- Apply advanced knowledge of medical terminology to understand - explain and apply technical language utilized by clinicians
- Serves as a technical advisor and liaison for various program applications
- Manage and respond to incoming electronic patient messages
- Assists with contact modalities outreach for veterans
- Assists with training of new hires
- Responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties
- Special Duties as assigned
- Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
- Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
- Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
- Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
- Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Salary : $50,964 - $66,255