Advanced Medical Support Assistant (Intermittent)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA), GS-06, to support Ambulatory Care across multiple clinics in the VA New Jersey Health Care System.

The role focuses on advanced administrative patient support within an interdisciplinary care delivery model. The AMSA performs complex scheduling, manages patient communications, handles referrals and follow-ups, and ensures access to care across clinics and community resources.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process related to access to care across interdisciplinary clinics.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary care delivery affecting patient flow and clinic operations.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology used by clinicians.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse medical clinicians to achieve team goals and ensure patient care.
• Ability to set priorities, organize work, and meet deadlines within established policies.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers in multiple formats.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability to ensure schedules meet clinic needs.
• Maintains effective communication with VA centers and external facilities; supports discharge communications and follow-up care systems.
• Assists with communications during inpatient to outpatient transitions and notifies patients of test results.

Skills

Advanced healthcare processes

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Prioritization and time management

Written communication

Clinical terminology

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistants (AMSA) position includes all PACT teams within Ambulatory Care Service at grade GS-6 can be assigned to East Orange, Lyons or any CBOCs within the VHA NJ HCS.

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.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Experience: None.
• 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

To qualify for the GS-06 level, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for the grade. Be specific when describing the job duties that demonstrate you possess the KSAs listed. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit.

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06:

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.

Assignment. The Advanced MSA performs difficult and responsible specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics, and makes adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.).

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

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.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.