Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: March 26, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
North Chicago, Illinois
Salary
$56,409 - $73,333
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Healthcare & Medical jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $41,966 - $54,557
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-6. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or 1 year graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves leading a team of medical support assistants at a federal health care center serving veterans, military recruits, and active duty personnel, focusing on scheduling appointments, managing patient flow, and coordinating care across multiple clinics.
A good fit would be someone with strong administrative experience in healthcare settings who enjoys organizing teams, communicating with diverse medical staff, and ensuring smooth patient services.
It's ideal for detail-oriented individuals who can handle busy environments and prioritize tasks effectively.
The incumbent performs as a Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) within the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), Resources Directorate, GPM Department.
The FHCC is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin which provide medical and dental services to U.S.
Military Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty, and eligible beneficiaries.
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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience: Experience.
Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR Education.
One year above high school; OR Experience/education combination.
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
English Language Proficiency - MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.
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).
GRADE REQUIREMENTS: GS-7 Lead Medical Support Assistant In addition of meeting the basic requirements the candidate must meet the following requirements: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized Experience to qualify at the GS-7: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
To be creditable, this experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with GS-6 MSA responsibilities.
Experience at this level includes, but is not limited to: expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model; collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines; sets priorities and organizes work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations; communicates tactfully and effectively by phone, in person and in writing; advanced knowledge of the technical health care process including scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals as it relates to access to care; advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow, and patient support care to include appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc.; an advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.
AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.
Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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 resources.
Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with variety of interdisciplinary care team staff Ability to provide staff development and training.
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 and 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/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work.
However, there may be some walking, standing, bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc.
No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Major Duties:
VA Careers - Lead Medical Support Assistant: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UJO_XH5uCLs Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is responsible for training and providing administrative support to their assigned section within the GPM Department.
The incumbent leads a group of employees and is responsible for coordinating efficient administrative support operation.
Duties include, but are not limited to: - Assures that the administrative support staff and military staff of the assigned service are trained and guided in order to meet the administrative needs of Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty, and other eligible beneficiaries.
- Coordinates the staff to perform numerous duties including Kiosks, Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB), telephone advice, maintaining appointment schedules, scheduling special studies or tests, eligibility determination, release of medical information, notifying patients of appointments and clinic cancellations.
This also includes review and teaching of RTC orders, recall reminders and duties in conjunction with Mission Act. - Is the communication link between administrative support staff and the Supervisor.
Initiative is a vital requirement in order to perform daily responsibilities.
- Ensures staff is performing functions that directly support facility measures such as return to clinic appointments, recall reminders, errors in the VSE scheduling package, dispositioning return to clinic orders, Insurance Capture Buffer, No-Show, EARR (open encounter) report.
- Distributes and balances the workload among employees making sure work is accomplished in a timely manner by monitoring the status and progress of work.
Also makes day-to-day adjustments and solves problems. Assists in distributing workload during Supervisor absence.
- Responsible for and aware of administrative procedures and changes in order to provide direct support and hands on assistance to each employee and answer all related questions.
- Maintains a safe, satisfactory working environment and resolves any inconsistencies. Incumbent is also aware of and informs each employee of all services and activities available to the employee.
- Receives and relays incoming and outgoing telephone messages.
- Performs administrative support work related to the care and treatment given to Veterans and DoD personnel, such as receiving patient files, medical record systems, and maintaining medical records (operating in CHCS/AHLTA and CPRS systems).
- Provides on-the-job training to new employees and provides instruction to all employees regarding scheduling menus and new computer packages, such as CPRS, VSE Scheduling Package, 0E/RR Radiology, Laboratory, AHLTA, etc.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am -4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available 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: Note available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: LEAD MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT/PD000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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