Medical Support Assistant (Advance)

Veterans Health Administration; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Southern Arizona VA Healthcare Systems (SAVACHS) seeks an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to serve as a liaison among patients, nursing and medical staff, outside agencies, and community providers in their assigned area.

Applicants must meet VA basic requirements, demonstrate advanced knowledge of care processes, and be able to prioritize tasks while ensuring timely patient access and data reporting across multiple disciplines.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship required; non-citizens may be considered only per VA policy.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing per 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• High school diploma or GED; include homeschool transcripts if applicable.
• GED certificate required.
• State/provincial proficiency certificate or equivalent educational credential.
• Grandfathering provision applies for current VHA employees in the occupation who meet criteria.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate scheduling and access to care across interdisciplinary teams and community providers.
• Communicate with internal and external customers to resolve patient concerns and improve flow.
• Prioritize and organize work to meet deadlines while following established VA processes and policies.

Skills

Communication

Patient scheduling

Administrative support

Medical terminology

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Southern Arizona VA Healthcare Systems (SAVACHS) is seeking an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA). This position serves as the liaison between patients, nursing staff, medical staff, outside agencies, community providers, and other VA Health Care Systems in their assigned area.

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 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education: High school diploma or transcript (including homeschooling)
• General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education
• Post-high school education You do not have one of the education levels listed above, but you were in the Medical Support Assistant occupation (GS-0679) on a permanent appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs as of February 5, 2026, meeting all qualification requirements as part of the grandfathering provision. 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:

In addition to the Basic Requirements, to be qualified you must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-5).

• In addition, you 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/.

Physical Requirements:

• Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Walking up to 1 hour
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• May be working alone and/or working closely with others.