Medical Support Assistant (Outpatient)

Department:	Department of Veteran Affairs
Agency:	Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Job Announcement Number:	VHA-553-14-KAB-1003080

Salary Range:	27,101.00 - 44,247.00 $ /year
Open Period:	Monday, December 02, 2013 to Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Series & Grade:	GS-0679-00/00
Position Information:	Full Time  Excepted Service Permanent
Duty Locations:	1 vacancy - Detroit, MI
Who May Be Considered:	United States Citizens
Security Clearance:	Public Trust - Background Investigation
Supervisory Status:	No

Job Summary:

About the Agency 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.   As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. 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.  For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ 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. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.  The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Performance Base Interviews (PBI) may be used.  For more information visit the following website http://www.detroit.med.va.gov/Services/Resources/jddvamc_human_res.htm Travel Required: Not Required

Key Requirements: Must pass pre-employment examination Must be proficient in written and spoken English Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required Background and-or Security Investigation required U.S. Citizenship

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DUTIES

Additional Duty Location Info:

1 vacancy - Detroit, MI
The Medical Support Assistant performs a full range of duties.  The Medical Support Assistant is responsible for scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA scheduling guidelines.  Duties include 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 area of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed; 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.).
Tour of Duty:   8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday
                      
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QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATIONS

Qualifications Required:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

• U.S. citizenship.  Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.   
• English Language Proficiency

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; 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.
• 
  
• Certification. None required.
• 
  
• 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.
• 
  
• 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 work week. For example, a MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time work week of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS:

GS-3 MSA (Entry Level)

Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 MSA (Developmental Level)

(a) Experience 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.

(b) 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 (Full Performance Level)

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

(b) 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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

References : VA Handbook 5005/53 Part II, Appendix G45 (also available in the local Human Resources Office). 

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.
Physical Requirements: The majority of work is performed in an office setting, primarily while seated.  The position requires some standing, ambulation, bending and carrying of items such as training manuals.  Incumbent is required to sit for long periods of time at a computer terminal typing data while on a telephone headset.  In addition, there can be increased stress due to the intensity of a patient/customer complaint or concern. 

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.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

How You Will Be Evaluated:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.Back to top

BENEFITS AND OTHER INFO

Benefits:

You can view our benefits at:

Other Information:

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
Performance Base Interview questions may be used.  For more information go to http://www.va.gov/pbi.



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HOW TO APPLY

How to Apply:

To apply to this job, click the Apply On USAJOBS button above. Before you do, here is a quick checklist to make applying a snap.

1. Have your USAJOBS username and password ready. If you don't have an account already, click here to sign-up.
   
2. If you have built a resume, download it to a Word in the MyCareer@VA Resume Builder so you can import it into your USAJOBS profile. Click here to return to the Resume Builder and export your resume.

Agency Contact Info:

VAMC Detroit Phone: (313)576-1000x63946 Email: DONOTREPLY@VA.GOV

Agency Information: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 4646 John R Detroit, MI 48201