Summary The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To lead HAS staff in performing and to perform administrative and clerical support work relating to the care and treatment given to patients of the inpatient units, outpatient clinics, ancillary support services, scheduling call center, Eligibility & Enrollment (E&E) Office, Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement office, and Compensation and Pension office at these facilities. Responsibilities Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are not limited to: The Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) is responsible for the coordination of Advanced MSA/MSA assignments and workflow found in an interdisciplinary unit. LMSAs provide evaluation information of personnel and work areas to establish adequate staffing coverage. The LMSA 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. The LMSA is responsible for a leadership role in evaluating training records, determining training needs, and providing comprehensive, detailed, on-the-job training to all MSA staff in the clinics and administrative sections of HAS. LMSAs acts as a liaison between the HAS Supervisors and Clinical and/or Administrative Staff of the facility as well as among, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts. Keeps supervisor advised of staff evaluation information, staffing shortages, and deficiencies or non-compliance regarding performance of Medical Support Assistants (MSA) and Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA). Responsible for coordination of administrative functions associated with the care and treatment of patients in the inpatient and outpatient clinic areas, eligibility, travel, call center, and compensation and pension sections. LMSA performs a range of duties that exemplify the full-performance level, which include responsibility for interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with the current VHA National Scheduling Directive guidelines. Daily use of Veteran Scheduling Enhancement (VSE), Integrated Scheduling System (ISS) and/or Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) software packages. At this level the LMSA coordinates activities within the area to include consult referrals to other services, lab, x-ray, other special studies, prints and provides unverified (A/D/T) orders or open request, and monitors completion of orders, verifies patient demographic information to include address, telephone number and next of kin (NOK) information. Clinic activities also include scheduling, rescheduling, no-shows, review Encounter report for completions/corrections, monitor of electronic wait list, consult scheduling, cancellation, and resolution. Informs patients about My HealtheVet in-Person Authentication and direct patients to areas associated with the program to be registered. Resolves informal complaints and responds to request for non-technical information on such subjects as status of reports/laboratory work, suspense dates, hours of operation, how to complete various medical forms, etc. Ensure encounters are properly addressed and closed within their scope to obtain appropriate workload credit. Reviews VSE open request, appointments, or consults, for closure. Completes clinic closeout- no actions taken and incomplete check-ins during daily reviews. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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 #: 50526-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j. Experience and Education: 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, Education: High school diploma with desire for some post high school education or equivalent experience; OR, 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. 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: 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. Grade Determinations: GS-7 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience with: Consults, RTC orders, Travel Vouchers, Pre-registration, insurance, VSE, Consult Toolbox, Data Entry and VSSE Previous experience resolving issues concerning: Patients, Co-Workers, Visitors 1 year of experience providing instruction/training in a formal setting 1 year of experience with Clinical Computer Software packages Experience completing working deadlines within timeframe allotted Experience working closely with management 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-07. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds Light carrying, under 15 pounds Straight pulling (1 hour) Pushing (1 hour) Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Both hands required Walking (1.5 hours) Standing (1.5 hours) Kneeling (1 hour) Repeated bending (1 hour) Both legs required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Both eyes required Depth perception Ability to distinguish basic colors Hearing (aid permitted) Hearing without aid Ability to talk on a telephone Ability to operate office equipment Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
