Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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

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This position is responsible for the overall administrative process of the environmental exam program, including elements and provisions from the passage of the PACT ACT of 2022. This includes processing of all environmental examinations including Toxic Exposure Screening navigation, Agent Orange, Prisoner of War, Ionized Radiation, Gulf War, Airborne Hazards, Toxic Embedded Fragment, Camp Lejeune, etc.

The employee is responsible for requesting related documentation from veterans in sufficient time for the professional staff to review scheduled appointment, ensuring that examinations are accurate and timely. The employee is responsible for the effective management and coordination of the CERNER EHRM/VISTA/CPRS applications as they relate to the Agent Orange, Prisoner of War (POW), and other specialty environmental programs.

A thorough knowledge of the scheduling and registration software packages is essential for the successful performance of assigned duties. The employee orients and advises the professional staff of the administrative process regarding VA regulations, public law, policies, guidelines, and procedures related to the environmental examination program. The employee has access and knowledge to highly sensitive data, including the veterans' medical information.

• Reviews, monitors, and maintains assigned registry programs system, independently identifying discrepancies and providing quality assurance of registry worksheets prior to submission to the Environmental Agents Service (EAS) database located at the Austin, Texas Corporate Franchise Data (CFD) Center.
• Coordinates activities such as: Scheduling Environmental Registry, Environmental Exposure and Toxic Exposure Navigator appointments within the mandated time frame and exploring other options if the time requirement cannot be met. Scheduling other environmental examinations (i.e., SHAD, Camp Lejeune, K2, etc.).
• Monitors timeframe compliance, ensuring follow-up letters are mailed within 2 weeks of the initial registry examination, prompt data entry into the EAS database, proper consult resolution and scheduling, etc.
• Checks consults on a weekly basis to ensure timely resolution (includes updating consults by making status changes, discontinuing, etc.). Disseminating information each veteran should be fully advised of their environmental registry examination program and advised to enroll in the VA health care system on the initial visit.
• Reviews records for accuracy and completion to include ensuring worksheets and questionnaires are completed prior to examination.
• Completes ongoing training and education courses through TMS and keeping up to date on various topics as they relate to environmental hazards through publications from the Office of Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME).
• Shares knowledge of the six VA Environmental Exam Registries, health conditions identified as presumptive conditions, the definitions of each exposure type, locations of exposures, history of the registries, historical theaters of US combat, basic PACT ACT of 2022 elements and provisions, VA claims filing process, PACT team administrative processes, and specialty care administrative processes.
• Practices technical rules for VA eligibility and apply them while meeting objectives of Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME).
• Gathers basic data through questionnaires, worksheets, interviews, and surveys to use in research and to enter into EAS or VIRP registries; uses data from the registries in order to review eligibility of VA healthcare and to successfully manage clinic scheduling and patient flow.

Work Schedule: Full Time; shifts available from 0800-1630; or 0700-1530; or 0730-1600
Telework: Ad Hoc, Per service/Agency need.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92779-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.
• 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
• Education: One year above high school; OR
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grade Determinations:

Below are the requirements to be found eligible for the GS-06 grade level

Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level and the ability to 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. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. 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. 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. 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. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• 1. Ability to 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 organize 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.
• 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: Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard, dated August 1, 2019.

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

Physical Requirements: he work is sedentary. Occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files, books and papers; some walking, standing and bending. No special physical qualifications required.

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.

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.

The 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.

*This occupation has been identified on the FY26 Office of Inspector General list of Staffing Shortages; thus, Veterans Preference is not applied.