Lead Medical Support Assistant

This position is located under the Health Administration Service at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Lead Medical Support Assistant continuously embraces and supports the mission, vision, and values of the VA Healthcare System.

The Lead MSA GS-0679-07 position is located in the Ambulatory Care Section in the Health Administration Service at the West Palm Beach, Florida VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the various Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, and Inpatient Wards throughout the entire medical center. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to:

• Monitors the status and progress of work, and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise.
• Approves leave for a few hours or for emergencies.
• Reports to supervisor on performance, progress, and training needs of employees.
• Expert knowledge of basic Medical Support Assistance responsibilities to include scheduling in VISTA, ISS, CPRS, Excel, Word and order entry, navigation of the computerized medical records, the admission and discharge process, the forms necessary to initiate any service, test procedure and patient privacy issues.
• Coordinates coverage for assigned clinic and provides coverage for MSAs when necessary.
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for patients with various clinics, ensuring all treatment requested by physician has been scheduled.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40315F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize

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:

• United States 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)
• Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS 6 scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C Ch. 73 or 74.

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).The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in above, the] following [education and experience] criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

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.
2. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
3. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
4. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
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 of incomplete work across multiple clinics.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 identification 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.