Medical Support Assistant
What you'd do
This Medical Support Assistant position is located in the Business Office at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.
Major duties
VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The purpose of this position is to serve as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in VISN 1, VA New England Healthcare System. The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of assignments and provides administrative support to increase scheduling and communication integrity across all services. Work is performed collaboratively in an Interdisciplinary Coordinate Care delivery model (Patient Aligned Care Team, or Specialty Care Setting). Functions: Collects and updates insurance information from Veterans, family members and other eligible patients. . Prepares correspondence and memos as needed. Screens/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of request and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes. Ensures data is entered into VISTA accurately and scans documents into VISTA Imaging within 24 hours of entering the data into VISTA if applicable. Promotes Veteran registration for and utilization of HealtheVet (MHV) Stocks basic office supplies for the clinical area. Enters Veterans seeking emergent/urgent care, scheduling appointments accurately. Utilizes call lists and telephones Veterans to pre-register them before their scheduled visits. Incumbent updates all patient demographics. Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. Assures that all appropriate VA forms are used correctly, and regulations followed. Additional duties or tasks may be assigned by the supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available. 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 authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F1390 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Notifications: This position is covered by a special rate. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
What you need to qualify
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. 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: Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) 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 this standard. (2) If an employee 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: Medical Support Assistant GS-5 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level; OR Education: Two years of education above high school AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience and education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. Preferred Experience: Strong customer service skills. Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G45 Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard GS-0679, dated May 07, 2026. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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