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Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) serves the Surgery ICC Service Line and is responsible for impacting the administrative aspect of patient care, including: access, scheduling/coordinating appointments using advanced clinic access principles, collecting and updating demographic and insurance information, managing the Electronic Waiting List (EWL), patient processing, and customer service.


Overview

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Job canceled
Posted 01/05/22
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$40,262 - $52,341 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Promotion potential
6
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
CBSY-11342731-22-DAS
Control number
629554200

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Duties

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Major duties include but are not limited to:

  • Working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model, to review clinic utilization by using various reports.
  • Entering appropriate information into the electronic record.
  • Performing receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients.
  • Maintaining appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics.
  • Assisting with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, location, or dates.
  • Screening/receiving phone calls in a courteous and timely manner.
  • Determining the nature of requests, and providing the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes.
  • Managing position responsibilities with little supervision as well as setting priorities and deadlines.
  • Participating in the specialty team meetings where patient care planning and management occur.
  • Conducting daily review of active/pending consults, EWL, Recall Reminder list, AudioCare communications.
  • Coordinating administrative services for veterans, family members, caregivers, and general public, administrative and clinical staff.
  • Ensuring that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into VA Health Care System Fargo, North Dakota Veterans' Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
  • Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with all clinical and administrative staff.
  • Interpreting and applying a complex body of pertinent laws, regulations, directives, and policies.
  • Generating patient reports for validation and monitoring activity in clinical areas to ensure consistent and accurate reporting.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 08:00am-04:30pm.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

**This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), and participation is available for highly qualified candidates. Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.**

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.).
b. Experience and Education.
(1) 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
(2) Education. One year above high school;
OR
(3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
c. Certification. None required.
d. Grandfathering Provision. All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, which are a part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) If an employee who was converted to Title 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
e. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
g. 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.

GS-06 Advanced Medical Support Assistant: This GS-6 Advanced Medical Support Assistant position is above the full performance level for this job series and requires experience beyond the basic requirement for positions in this occupation.

EXPERIENCE:
One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level that equips the candidate with the following:
1. Operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.
2. Schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
3. Work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work.
4. Communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.
5. Customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

AND

Candidates must be able to demonstrate all of the knowledge, skills and abilities below:
1. Abilityto collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met.
2. Ability to independently set priorities and organizes work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies and regulations.
3. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, as well as resolving patient concerns.
4. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including, but not limited to, 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.
5. 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 administrative functions to include, but not limited to appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc.
6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

References: See VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G, page II-G45-4 & II-G45-5

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, however, there may be some walking, standing, bending and transporting items under 20 pounds. Works extensively in the hospital computer system.

Education

There is no education substitute for experience for the GS-6 Advanced Medical Support Assistant position.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The Fargo VA Health Care System (HCS) is a Joint Commission accredited medical/surgical hospital with 36 acute care beds, a 38 bed Community Living Center, Primary Care and Specialty Clinics, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Our CBOCs are located across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

The Fargo VA HCS oversees the provision of health care to more than 36,000 Veterans living in North Dakota, 17 counties in northwest Minnesota, and one northeast South Dakota county. The Fargo VA HCS has approximately 300,000 outpatient visits annually. The Medical Center is affiliated with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, providing training to medical students, and Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Surgery resident physicians. The facility is also a training facility for nursing and allied health care students.

The Medical Center is located in a quiet north Fargo neighborhood near the Red River within walking distance to a bus stop, parks, walking/bike paths, and a golf course. The Medical Center is also just down the street from North Dakota State University, the Fargodome, restaurants, hotels, and downtown Fargo.

Agency contact information

Dmitriy Selyukov
Phone
651-405-5609
Email
Dmitriy.Selyukov@va.gov
Address
Fargo VA Medical Center
2101 Elm Street
Fargo, ND 58102
US

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