Lead Medical Support Assistant

The Lead Medical Support Assistant (MSA) serves as part of the Community Care Service Line with the Iowa City Healthcare System, located in Iowa City, IA. The Lead MSA must demonstrate the ability to effectively plan, organize, and execute a wide range of responsibilities and interactions with staff and Veterans. This position provides MSA leadership and is an integral member of the team to effectively carry out day-to-day administrative operations in the Community Care department.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Lead MSA is responsible for daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage, evaluating training records, conducting appointment audits, and determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings. The Lead assists the department with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes.

The Lead MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary care delivery model and performs customer service and administrative duties for proper and timely treatment of Veterans care. Must demonstrate substantial skill in planning, organizing, problem solving, and decision-making. The incumbent must demonstrate a high level of oral and written communication skills.

The Lead MSA understands and appropriately utilizes the administrative support packages, including but not limited to; Consult Tracking Manager (CTM), Computerized Veteran Record System (CPRS), REFDOCS, Release of Information (ROI), VA Online Scheduling (VAOS), Vista, Provider Profile Management System (PPMS), Health Share Referral Manager (HSRM), and other programs. All appointments will be made with the Veteran's input, either in person, over the phone, or through written communication.

Assignments at this level include but are not limited to:

• Distributes and balancing the workload among employees, in accordance with established work flow or job specialization
• Assures timely accomplishment of the assigned workload
• Monitors the status and progress of work, and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities
• Obtains assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise
• Provides on the job training for employees in accordance with established procedures and practices
• Ensures accurate and timely scheduling of appointments
• Provides guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures
• Acts as a liaison among Advanced MSA(AMSA) staff, Veterans, Vendors, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
a. 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).
b. Experience. None.
c. Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
d. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None.
e. Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of thequalification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education andregistration/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 the standard.
2. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

f. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
g. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
h. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Lead Medical Support Assistant, GS-07.
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade level of the position being filled.

AND

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) 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.
(b) Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
(c) Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
(d) Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
(e) Ability to provide staff development and training.
(f) 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.

To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with
current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting.

If selected, to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended, applicants must provide one of the following as verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfathering provision:

• Copy of high school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR
• college transcript (official)

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.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.