Medical Support Assistant

This position is located in the Jicarilla Service Unit in Dulce, New Mexico, and can be assigned to any outpatient location within the medical center. The purpose of this position is to provide administrative & clerical support to all departmental operations, patients, & healthcare staff. This position reports to the Chief Nurse Executive or designee.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
Medical Support Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

• Coordinates and manages patient appointments, referrals, consults, follow-up visits, and related scheduling activities using electronic health record and automated scheduling systems.
• Maintains, reviews, and updates patient records, referrals, medical orders, laboratory requests, and related documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, timely processing, and continuity of care.
• Provides administrative and customer service support to patients, families, visitors, and staff by responding to inquiries and communicating appointment information, procedures, referrals, and department services.
• Performs clerical and administrative functions, including preparing correspondence, reports, forms, data entry, filing, medical records scanning, workload tracking, and recurring administrative reporting.
• Supports clinic operations through timekeeping, supply inventory, eligibility and insurance-related administrative processes, while maintaining patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, privacy requirements, and agency policies.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

GS-04: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of general experience. General experience is progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates your ability to perform the work of this position at the GS-04 level.

OR

Two (2) years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial, or technical school, junior college, college, or university.

OR

A combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualification s for this position. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify an applicant for the GS-4 level.combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualification s for this position. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify an applicant for the GS-4 level.

GS-05: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Providing reception and administrative support in a healthcare setting; receiving visitors, answering telephone calls, and responding to routine requests for information; performing patient intake activities, and entering or updating patient information in an electronic medical record system; maintaining patient records, forms, reports, or confidential medical information.

OR

Four (4) years of education above the high school level.

OR

A combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-05 grade level.

GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Providing reception and administrative support in a healthcare setting; providing customer service and assisting patients with routine requests or services; performing patient intake activities and maintaining patient information in an electronic medical record system; maintaining patient records, forms, reports, and confidential medical information; assisting patients with eligibility or available resources; performing administrative support activities related to patient services or third-party billing.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Your resume must support your application responses.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

If you are substituting education for experience; You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/.

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.