Advanced Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Alamosa (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37-50 days of annual paid time off

Parental leave up to 12 weeks

Childcare subsidy for eligible families

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring an Advanced Medical Support Assistant in Alamosa, Colorado. This critical role provides administrative support to healthcare teams, coordinates patient appointments, and ensures smooth patient flow within clinics. Candidates should possess relevant skills and a high school diploma. This position offers a full-time work schedule, a competitive salary, and generous paid time off including holidays and parental leave.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience at the GS-5 level.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to clinical colleagues.
• Schedule and coordinate patient appointments.
• Review clinic utilization and ensure effective patient flow.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes

Ability to organize work and meet deadlines

Effective communication skills

Knowledge of medical terminology

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

About the Role

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information refer to Required Documents below. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) has vacancies in multiple locations at various specialty clinics. AMSAs provide expert administrative patient support in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.

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
• 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
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: Grandfathering Provision
• Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and registration/certification where applicable
• For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: 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
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Advanced Medical Support Assistant - GS-6
• In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements outlined above - candidates must possess the required specialized experience and be able to demonstrate all Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs) as summarized below

Experience

• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS‑5 level
• (Scheduling and rescheduling patients for treatment)
• Interviewing patients for appointments
• Referring patients to other medical specialty clinics
• Providing information to patients necessary to resolve complaints
• Interacting with both internal and external customers
• Reviewing and documenting medical outpatient and inpatient electronic health records — as well as administrative records
• Verifying third party insurance and updating information
• Obtaining medical information from patients
• Coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services
• and scheduling appointments in accordance within guidelines.

Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)

• 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
• 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

Preferred Experience

None

Physical Requirements

• The work performed is predominately clerical in nature and requires no special physical standards
• The work is usually performed in an office setting — working with others and/or alone
• As typical in an office setting — there is the possibility for multiple distractions from normal operating functions and the incumbent is expected to be able to physically perform the duties of the position — aides permitted (which may include walking — sitting — standing — reaching — and bending.). The work may also include the need for light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) of work materials (i.e.: books — binders — papers — etc.).

Duties & Responsibilities

• Important notice: This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2026
• Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available
• This announcement may close without advanced notice
• AMSAs provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans
• Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely — accurate — accessible health care
• The VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand — believe in and take pride in VA's mission
• AMSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to many areas of the medical center including but not limited to any of the following areas: The Business Office — Community Care Service — Call Center — Health Administrative Services
• Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinates with the patient care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports
• Ensures that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic — and makes any necessary adjustments
• Develops/maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient — interdisciplinary team — VA medical centers — and other agencies
• Facilitates/processes secure messaging with the patient and team
• Notifies patients of normal lab results
• Develops and manages a tracking system for follow-up care such as consults — tests — etc.
• Participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care
• Sets priorities and deadlines — adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs
• May work with the team to reinforce the plan of care and self‑help solutions and entering appropriate information into the electronic record
• Monitors pre‑appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure (e.g. — X‑ray — lab work)
• Manages electronic wait list to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues
• Work schedule: Full time
• Work schedule will be determined upon selection

Compensation & Benefits

• Recruitment incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay — a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual — based on prior work experience or military service experience
• 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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55466A / 55688A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized