VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant

The VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant provides support to the Medical Center staff and Veterans. This position is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, including data entry, filing, and maintaining records. The Program Support Assistant also provides customer service to Veterans and their families.

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Introduction

The VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant is responsible for providing a wide range of administrative support to the VA Medical Center’s programs and services. This position requires excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who is able to take on tasks with minimal supervision and complete them in a timely and efficient manner.

What is a VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant?

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Program Support Assistant (PSA) is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks that support the daily operations of a VA medical center. PSAs are responsible for maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and providing customer service to veterans and their families. They may also be responsible for managing medical supplies and equipment, and handling billing and insurance claims.

Duties of a VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Program Support Assistant is responsible for a variety of clerical and administrative duties in support of the medical center’s patient care, education and research programs. The position requires excellent customer service skills as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications.

Duties of a VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant include but are not limited to:
Answering telephone calls and routing them to the appropriate staff member or department;
Greeting patients, visitors and staff;
Maintaining appointment schedules;
Collecting patient co-pays and other payments;
Preparing correspondence;
Scheduling conference rooms and logistics for meetings and educational events;
Maintaining files;
Stocking supplies.

Skills Needed to be a Successful VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant

There are certain skills that are needed to be a successful VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant. These skills include:

-Excellent communication skills. A Program Support Assistant will need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of people, including medical staff, patients, and families.
-Strong organizational skills. A Program Support Assistant will need to be able to keep track of multiple tasks and deadlines.
-Compassion. A Program Support Assistant should be caring and empathetic, as they will be working with patients who may be dealing with difficult medical issues.
-Attention to detail. A Program Support Assistant must be able to pay attention to detail in order to accurately document patient information.

Salary Information for VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants

The VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant position is a great way to get your foot in the door of the medical field. As a Program Support Assistant, you will provide administrative and clerical support to the staff of a VA Medical Center. Your responsibilities will include maintaining files, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and providing customer service to veterans and their families.

This is an entry-level position with a starting salary of $33,000 per year. With experience, you can expect to earn up to $39,000 per year.

Job outlook for VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants

The job outlook for VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants is very good. The position is expected to grow by about 9% over the next ten years, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The main reason for this growth is the increasing number of veterans who are eligible for VA benefits.

How to Become a VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant

The Veterans Affairs (VA) medical system is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States providing care to over 9 million Veterans. The VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant (PSA) occupation is a vital part of the VA healthcare team. PSAs provide clerical and administrative support to a variety of hospital and outpatient programs. PSAs perform duties such as data entry, scheduling appointments, updating medical records and processing patient referrals.

To qualify for a PSA position, applicants must have at least two years of general experience, which can include customer service, clerical work, or administrative support; or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes tasks such as greeting visitors, answering telephone calls, handling customer inquiries, data entry, and preparing correspondence.

Individuals who wish to apply for a PSA position must complete an online application through USAJOBS. Once the application has been completed and submitted, eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.

FAQs about becoming a VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant

Q. What is a Program Support Assistant?
A. A Program Support Assistant (PSA) is a member of the Administrative Services staff who provides clerical and program support to one or more sections within a facility.

Q. What are the duties of a PSA?
A. The duties of a PSA vary by section, but may include responsibility for general office operations, answering phones, data entry, processing requests and maintaining files.

Q. What qualifications are needed to be a PSA?
A. To be eligible for the position of PSA, applicants must have at least two years of general office experience. They must also be able to type at least 40 words per minute and demonstrate basic proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

Q: What is the hiring process for PSAs?
A: The hiring process for PSAs generally includes an interview and skills testing. Candidates who are selected for an interview will be notified by the facility HR office.

Related Careers to VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants

If you are interested in a career related to VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants, there are a few options to consider. These include working as a medical administrative assistant Medical records technician, or health information technician. Each of these careers requires different levels of education and experience, but all are within the medical field and would likely involve working closely with VA Medical Center Program Support Assistants on a daily basis. To learn more about these related careers, click on the links below.

Conclusion

The VA Medical Center Program Support Assistant will be responsible for assisting the Program Manager in the planning and coordination of all program activities. The Program Support Assistant will maintain contact with participants, providers, and stakeholders; schedule and coordinate program activities; monitor program budget and expenditures; collect data and prepare reports; and perform other duties as assigned.