Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant serves within the Mental Health ICC at the Quad Cities VA Clinic within the Iowa City VA Healthcare System. The Advanced MSA is the first administrative point-of-contact for Veterans, family, and other visitors contacting the Iowa City VAHCS. This position will provide introductory administrative support to clinical staff members and Veterans, in addition to overseeing the daily clerical functions of the scheduling of all Mental Health areas.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Demonstrates positive people skills in interactions which reflect caring, service orientation, professionalism, understanding, helpfulness and concern toward Veterans, visitors, and other employees of the Medical Center in both verbal and written communication. Maintains Veteran rights, confidentiality, and individuality. Resolves issues at the lowest level and in a timely manner. Set limits/boundaries which are clearly defined within the MSA/Veteran relationship. Have Advanced knowledge of medical terminology to ensure that Veterans and other callers are directed to the most appropriate place of assistance. Participate in and independently follow up on team huddles/meetings, sharing information and collaborating with the medical team assuring continuity of care. Is the main point of contact for all Secure Messages/Message Manager sent to their team; will either fulfill the request or forward to the appropriate staff for follow up and completion Is an expert in the department for scheduled and unscheduled visits Maintains flexibility in adapting to changes in schedule and workload. Assists other team members willingly. Prepare reports in various formats and present data to various organizational levels. Screens call and determine if the call requires attention from a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Provider, or other designated professional. Maintains and secures medical records as appropriate and in accordance with the Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Enters appropriate information into the Veterans electronic medical record. Assures appropriate forms including and documents are presented, sent out, or completed by the Veterans. Facilitates Release of Information for records and documents being received from outside facilities monitor and track the progress of received required information. Provides advanced clerical support to the area they are assigned, including support to any staff member. Sets deadlines and priorities, adjusting the flow to help meet those deadlines and workload. Obtains and monitors the use of services, supplies, and equipment for their offices area. Updates Veteran's demographic information to include the following: address, phone number, insurance, preferred method of communication, guardianship reminder, and other information as new programs are added or changed. Receives and responds to inquiries via Secure Messaging, Message Manager, VAR, VEText, letters, or phone calls. These can include getting information to Veteran care teams through the entry of a note into the CPRS system and alerting the appropriate clinical staff member, requesting tests or medications, questions on appointments, scheduling, and various other inquiries. The MSA can recognize and refer urgent inquiries to clinical staff for immediate action as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.