Lead Medical Support Assistant

Summary

Puget Sound VA Medical Center is looking to fill Lead Medical Support Assistant positions in the Hospital Specialty Management Service Line at the main Seattle campus. First list of eligible applicants will be sent to the hiring manager on 5/29/26. The list generated from this announcement can be used up to 90 days to fill any additional vacancies that may arise.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the announcement closing date.

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 Proficient
• Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• Specialized Experience must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level collaborating with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines - scheduling interdisciplinary appointments - and possessing an advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community
• **Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit
• ** Candidates must demonstrate 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 care systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting
• 3
• Ability to organize work - set priorities - and delegate tasks/responsibilities to meet deadlines
• 4
• Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desires 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 if incomplete work across multiple clinics
• References: VA Handbook 5005/117 - Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard - GS-679
• Published August 1 - 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 7
• Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but may require periods of standing or walking however - there are no physical requirements for the 0679 Medical Support Assistant occupation.
  
  

Duties

• Lead Medical Support Assistants (LMSA) 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
• LMSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to many areas (service lines) of the medical center that have a need
• The LMSA is responsible for the coordination of MSA assignments and workflow - especially in an interdisciplinary unit
• The LMSA 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 LMSA assists the unit with complex and non-standard procedures - including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics - inpatient/outpatient - specialties - and/or community resources
• The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes
• Uses Electronic Health Record (EHR) in conjunction with approved scheduling software to view - process and schedule orders
• Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines
• Enters/updates or verify insurance information per VHA policies and directives
• Assist and train other Medical Support Assistants as needed
• Provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model
• Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability and utilization to ensure that schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics
• Communicates with other agencies - departments - and non-VA medical facilities
• prepare correspondence - manage follow-up care such as consults - tests - etc
• Processes incoming secure messaging - coordinate with care team - participate in team huddles - and team meetings
• Sets priorities and deadlines - identify incomplete encounters - and communicate findings - reinforce the plan of care - enter appropriate information into the electronic records
• Monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements - verifies and validates accuracy in patient systems
• Provides guidance to staff members - to include changes in policies and procedures - creating and maintaining employee work schedules
• Acts as a liaison among MSA staff - patients - and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day to day conflicts
• Work Schedule: Typical tour of duty is Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm
• Available tours will be discussed during the interview process
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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