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Program Support Assistant - Patient Relations Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration - Chillicothe VA Medical Center, Chillicothe, OH

Summary

This Program Support Assistant position serves as Patient Relations Assistant for the Chillicothe VA Healthcare System. This position is organizationally aligned under the Customer Service Department, Chillicothe VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of this position is to function as patient advocate liaison, problem solver, communicator, and facilitator for Veterans, their family members, representatives, employees, and Medical Center stakeholders.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/08/2026 to 05/15/2026
Salary
$52,654 - $68,452 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Chillicothe, OH
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CBSR-12953793-26-CL
Control number
868541100

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Serves as the point of contact, liaison, facilitator, and problem-solver to assist Veterans and their families.
  • Greets and directs customers (including Veterans, their family members, staff, and other stakeholders) to appropriate services necessary for meeting their care related needs.
  • Assisting the Chief Patient Experience Officer to implement various strategies and programs to improve the overall patient experience within the hospital system, as well as compiling data and running reports for measuring the success of program implementation, and other data compilation requests as assigned.
  • Program implementation includes Red Coat Ambassador Program, Welcome Center, clinic environmental improvements, employee new badge implementation and future projects.
  • Prepares and monitors evaluation data, analyzes data, identify discrepancies, make corrections, and recommends a course of action to ensure accuracy and timeliness of future data input.
  • Collects, analyzes, and evaluates data generated and produces meaningful reports based on that data regarding quality and customer service standards.
  • Generates reports on the status and effectiveness of the Medical Center's Veteran Experience program.
  • Also assists the Patient Advocates in the PATS-R system.
  • Implements and maintains initial program requirements, as well as any new initiatives that are required by the Medical Center, VA Central Office, or other related and approved cultural transformation entities.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Telework: Not authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant - Patient Relations Assistant/PD92982-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/15/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) in Federal Service, that equipped you with where knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of the program and related support resources in the area studied. Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes; and Interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations. Ability to analyze and evaluate a wide variety of complex input from VA staff to develop appropriate recommendations and decisions to achieve information objectives.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Creative Thinking
  • Client Orientation
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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and occasional visits to facility work sites. Occasional use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. No special physical exertion is required.

Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. There is Veteran contact with the possibility of exposure to communicable diseases. Visits are necessary to wards, clinics and other areas of the medical center. Occassional TDY's will be required to support the Veterans Experience Office, Public Affairs, Patient Advocate duties in support of Veterans.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - 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 whole health care to Veterans?

The VA Chillicothe Healthcare System is a leading health care system and innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 (VISN 10), which includes medical centers and clinics in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Chillicothe VAMC is a teaching hospital offering clinical rotations in medical, dental, and mental health specialties to 200+ health profession trainees at all levels per year. Chillicothe VAMC sponsors a psychology clinical internship and residencies in hospital pharmacy, psychiatric pharmacy, physician assistant mental health, and optometry. Chillicothe VAMC also trains medical and dental resident and students, associated health students, and nursing students. We have over 50 academic affiliates, including Adena Medical Center, Ohio State University, Ohio University, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Hocking College, and Rio Grande University. For more information, please click on the link: About Us | VA Chillicothe Health Care | Veterans Affairs

Agency contact information

Cyle Long
Phone
740-773-1141 X16244
Email
Cyle.Long@va.gov
Address
Chillicothe VA Medical Center
17273 State Route 104
Chillicothe, OH 45601
US

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