Medical Support Assistant (Surgical and Specialty Care)

Quick Facts

• Role: Medical Support Assistant (Surgical and Specialty Care)

• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4pm

• Telework: Not available

Description

The Medical Support Assistant provides clear, thorough administrative and scheduling support to Surgical & Specialty Care (SSC) clinicians, Veterans, their families, and visitors within the St. Cloud VA Surgical & Specialty Care service line. The role independently performs inpatient/outpatient patient support duties—answering phones, scheduling and managing appointments and consults, verifying provider orders per VHA scheduling guidelines, and maintaining accurate patient demographics and insurance information.

Responsibilities

• Answer phones, greet patients/visitors, and relay messages to the appropriate staff

• Schedule, cancel, reschedule, and monitor patient appointments and consult requests from multiple electronic sources

• Enter no-show information and coordinate daily clinic needs with huddles and clinic staff

• Verify and update demographics and insurance information during check-in

• Coordinate administrative functions for emergency and non-emergency transfers; determine appointment type based on eligibility

• Perform pre-registration tasks (demographics updates, insurance scanning)

• Ensure encounter forms are complete and support provider close-out of open encounters

• Enter documentation into patient records; process basic, non-complex medical orders

• Fax and mail documents as needed

• Provide guidance and directions within St. Cloud VAHCS (in person and by phone)

• Follow HIPAA rules and share data only as needed

• Handle sensitive situations, including suicide call handling

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent education

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Complete all required steps in the hiring process, including an online assessment

• Selective Service registration (for eligible males born after 12/31/1959)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements (I-9)

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program

• Complete a 1–2 year trial period and receive written certification to continue employment

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases

• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and Federal holidays)

• Parental leave (after 12 months of employment): up to 12 weeks paid

• Child care subsidy (after 60 days of employment, income-eligible): up to 25% of eligible costs

• Retirement: federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% employer contributions

• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care options

• Benefits eligibility depends on the type of position