Qualifications

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. All other requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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: One year above high school
• OR, Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Grade Determination: In addition to meeting basic requirement listed above, applicant must possess at least one year experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, GS5 (Full Performance level), that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position
• Medical Support Assistant GS-3: 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
• One year above high school
• OR Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition candidates must demonstrated all of the KSA's below: Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals in a courteous and helpful manner in order to give instructions and arrange appointments
• Ability to utilize computer systems to enter administrative data in patient systems
• Ability to learn and utilize basic medical terminology to record patient messages and physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care
• Medical Support Assistant, GS-4 Experience
• One year of experience in 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
• Two years of education above high school
• TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition candidates must demonstrated all of the KSA's below: 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 [facilitate medical care for patients Ability to use, and navigate between, various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e
• computer systems, web based scheduling programs
• insurance collection system
• scanning software, multiple line phone systems
• electronic faxing programs) to support patient care Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics
• Medical Support Assistant, GS-5 Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-4 grade level (developmental)
• OR Education
• Four years of education above high school
• TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition candidates must demonstrated all of the KSA's below: 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
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients
• 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
• Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• Physical requirements: The work is sedentary
• Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work
• However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts, or driving an automobile, etc
• No special physical demands are required to perform the work
• Condition of employment: Must be able to pass the national scheduling training exam and competency within 60 days of employment.