Medical Support Assistant – Geriatrics and Extended Care

Summary

The incumbent is a vital member of the inpatient healthcare team at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS). MVAHCS is classified as a Complexity Level 1A tertiary care facility. The incumbent provides medical administrative support to the inpatient hospital units within MVAHCS to ensure effective 24/7 operations related to the care and treatment of Veterans.

Duties

• VA Careers – Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of this position are, but not limited to: Performs tasks with minimal supervision according to policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Communicates in a thorough, correct, and precise verbal/written manner.
• Receives patients, visitors, and staff to the unit.
• Performs a variety of reception duties associated with patient care, either in person, telephone, patient callbox, e-mail correspondence, written messages or other.
• Interacts with representatives from outside agencies such as Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, Veterans Integrated Service Network, and Veterans Health Administration or other when necessary.
• Utilizes necessary security methods for protecting confidential patient information such as protecting computer access, requesting identification of unknown individuals presenting to the unit to gain patient information.
• Participates in the creation, completion, distribution, and retention of medical record documentation for patient hospitalization and discharge according to facility policies and procedures outlined by several regulating bodies such as the Joint Commission.
• Records and/or makes computer entries for a variety of complex physician orders involving patient activity, diets, tests, appointments, treatments and medications.
• Records, transcribes and initiates patient movement computer entries appropriate to patient status (admission, observation, inter-ward transfer, bed assignments, pass/authorized absence, short stay, clinic, and lodger check- in/out, provider entry, treating specialty, discharge type or other).
• Coordinates and schedules inpatient appointments and discharge follow up appointment requests through various interoffice appointment scheduling methods.
• Multitasks and/or sets and adjusts short-term priorities in order to complete responsibilities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
• Ensures office equipment is in working order; corrects and/or reports failures in a timely manner.
• Maintains inventory of office supplies and replenishes stocks to support the needs of the area Encourages and supports a positive workplace environment and team building.
• Assists other MSAs when necessary (i.e. difficult or uncooperative customer, emergencies, high volume workload, etc.).
• Maintains a neat and clean work area, including desks, countertops and storage.
• Awareness of safety concerns, regulations, policies and procedures, and employs appropriate safety practices.
• Performs other MSA related duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Administrative Days, 7:30am-4:00pm- Every other weekend, every other holiday.
• Day Shift 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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.

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/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the facility. All other permanent VA employees.

Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies All other applicants. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) **Highly Recommend** Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document – KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript