Clarification from the agency

This position is open to the public. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. A certificate will be issued every two weeks or as requested.

Videos

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo

Duties include but are not limited to:

The Advanced MSA (AMSA) delivers expert, specialized administrative support to patients while working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary, coordinated care model. AMSA duties require advanced administrative judgment and the agile application of a broad range of clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and community care resources.

The AMSA recommends process improvements based on current administrative guidelines and serves as an expert in utilizing a variety of advanced patient systems supporting multiple clinics and specialties involved in coordinated care delivery. AMSAs coordinate with the patient care team in face-to-face settings to review clinic appointment availability, ensuring the needs of both clinics and Veterans are effectively met. They maintain timely and efficient communication with patients, PACT team members, community providers, supervisors, leads, and other agencies. Responsibilities include serving as the initial point of contact for CITC, including but not limited to scheduling appointments, tracking, reviewing, and responding to consults, and other elements within electronic medical records and related medical systems.

This position requires practical knowledge of computerized data entry, information processing systems and patient care software, understanding of healthcare system organization and services, familiarity with basic rules and regulations for visitors and patient care, and knowledge of standard procedures, medical records, and medical terminology.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm.
Telework: Not Available
Functional Statement #:52867A.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure: Not required.

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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Experience: None.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration. None
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Advanced Medical Support Assistant- GS-6:

Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in Federal service (GS-05). Examples of experience at the next lower grade; Knowledge of medical terminology, scheduling appointments (including interpreting and verifying provider orders), canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; use of Microsoft Office, entering no-show information; monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other facilities or hospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverage, and other related support work in a health care setting.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to collaborate, communicate, set priorities, and organize the work in order to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations
2. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational level.
3. Ability to run errands in support of team functions by clinical staff. Ability to call Rapid Response as needed and directs resources in the event of an emergency as well as receives and directs patients and visitors.
4. Ability for the following: Sitting, Standing, effective verbal communications, walking, bending, lifting, carrying more than 35 lb. objects such as files, books, and paper, box of paper reams, quickly responding to mental health codes to replace nursing staff tasks.
5. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care.
6. Advanced knowledge of managing a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment.
7. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow, patient care, and the revenue process.
8. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of Microsoft programs including, but not limited to PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and Excel
• Experience scheduling patients in Clinical Video Telehealth; VA Video Connect and phone clinics
• Experience scheduling across multiple platforms (GUI, VistA, Telehealth Management Platform)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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:


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.

Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.