Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, IN seeks an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) to support physicians, nurses, and the care team within Medical Service.

The AMSA will help manage patient flow, coordinate appointments, and handle administrative tasks across multiple clinics. The role requires strong communication, knowledge of medical terminology, and the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience with coordinating care and patient flow is expected.
• Ability to communicate with diverse clinical teams and patients.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative patient support within an interdisciplinary care delivery model.
• Assist with scheduling, patient flow, and clinic coordination across clinics and services.
• Maintain patient information in electronic records and prepare routine correspondence.

Skills

Healthcare process

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Medical terminology

Communication skills

Prioritization

Documentation

Education

High school diploma / GED

Tools

EHR systems

MyHealthyVet

Office software (Word/Outlook)

Job description

This position is located at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC Indianapolis - IN within Medical Service. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) is responsible for performing a variety of technical support duties that facilitate the work of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nursing assistants, and other members of the medical facility who provide direct patient care. A/MSAs are considered chief sources of patient care and patient flow information.

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: Must have a high school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• 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: GS06: Experience: Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• (a) 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
• (b) 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
• (c) Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
• (d) 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
• (e) Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations
• (f) 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: The work is mostly sedentary
• It typically requires sitting with sustained periods of concentration
• There will be some walking - standing - bending - and carrying of relatively light objects
• The position may also require stooping - reaching - lifting - pulling - and other moderate exertion or strain
• Incumbent may occasionally have to walk some distance to a meeting.

Duties

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Duties include but are not limited to: Provides 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
• A/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.)
• Processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate
• Participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage - plan - problem solve - and follow-up with] patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team
• setting priorities and deadlines - adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs
• Identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers
• as needed
• assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions
• enters appropriate information into the electronic record
• monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure
• manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues
• evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether [the patient requires an immediate appointment
• informs team members about shared patients (i.e. - those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community).Uses word processing software to execute several office automations functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• inserting and deleting text - formatting letters - reports - and memoranda
• and transmitting and receiving e-mail
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 6:30am-3:00pm or 7:30-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91463-VS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized