Lead Medical Support Assistant

About the role

The Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) position is within the Geriatric and Extended Care Service Line at Portland VA Medical Center in Vancouver, WA. The position is open until July 22, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes
• Uses Electronic Health Record (EHR) in conjunction with approved scheduling software to view, process, and schedule orders
• Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines
• Enters/updates or verifies insurance information per VHA policies and directives
• Assists and trains other Medical Support Assistants as needed
• Provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model
• Captures and reviews clinic appointment availability and utilization to ensure schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics
• Communicates with other agencies, departments, and non-VA medical facilities to prepare correspondence, manage follow-up care, and participate in team huddles and meetings
• Sets priorities and deadlines, identifies incomplete encounters, and communicates findings, reinforces the plan of care, and enters appropriate information into the electronic records
• Maintains pre-appointment information and/or requirements, verifies and validates accuracy in patient systems
• Provides guidance to staff members, including changes in policies and procedures, creating and maintaining employee work schedules
• Acts as a liaison among MSA staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

• 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 care systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities to meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate with individuals to obtain desired effects and coordinate with a 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

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic English language proficiency
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level collaborating with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines, scheduling interdisciplinary appointments, and possessing an advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community

Skills

• 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 care systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities to meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate with individuals to obtain desired effects and coordinate with a 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

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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 federal work experience or military service experience
• 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
• 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
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Paid Federal holidays

Pay

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Above minimum rate of the grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA

Schedule

Typical tour of duty is Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm or Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Benefits

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Relocation Assistance: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position