Medical Support Assistant (Advance)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

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

The role focuses on coordinating interdisciplinary care delivery, managing appointments, and supporting patient flow across clinics in a high-demand VA environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; grandfathering provisions may apply for current MSA employees.
• Citizenship and English proficiency required as per VA standards.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-5 with knowledge of health care processes and patient access.
• Advanced knowledge of health care policies related to interdisciplinary care delivery and patient flow.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with pharmacists, social workers, providers, nurses, and case managers to coordinate patient care.
• Maintain appointment schedules and coordinate labs or special studies; follow up on administrative items from meetings.
• Screen calls and visitors, provide information while protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Serve as an initial point of contact for scheduling, tracking, orders, and EMR-related tasks.
• Work full-time Monday–Friday; various tours at supervisor discretion; telework not available.

Skills

Advanced care coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient communication

Administrative prioritization

Medical terminology

Report generation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Summary

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.

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 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
• Note: Copy of high school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR college transcript (official) if not covered under 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.

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: The incumbent works collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members such as pharmacists - social workers - providers - nurses - case managers - etc
• while exhibiting expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics
• Maintaining appointment schedules - scheduling special studies or labs and following up on administrative items from the Huddle and/or staffing meetings
• Screening/receiving phone calls and visitors in a courteous and timely manner - determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established processes
• Serving as an initial point of contact for functions including but not limited to scheduling patient appointments - tracking - reviewing and responding to electronic orders - consults - and other elements in the electronic medical record
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday - Friday - Various Tours (Up to Supervisors Discretion)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized