Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Shreveport (LA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to support the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or Specialty Care settings.

The role emphasizes scheduling across interdisciplinary teams, managing patient flow, and coordinating care within the PACT framework. Strong English proficiency and the ability to work with diverse clinicians are essential; prior experience in VA processes is a plus.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Advanced knowledge of healthcare delivery processes and patient flow.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple clinical staff to coordinate care.

Skills

Healthcare scheduling

Interdisciplinary coordination

Medical terminology

Communication skills

Prioritization

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant is assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model or a Specialty Care Setting involved in a PACT model. The PACT team let is a primary care team that generally consists of a primary care provider (MD, NP, PA), registered nurse care manager, clinical associate (LPN or medical assistant/health technician) and an administrative associate (MA/MSA/health technician).

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 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.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration. None.

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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 reentry to the occupation.

NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements.

Foreign Education.

To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.

In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed in above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

(KSAs must be clearly reflected in the resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level).

Grade Determinations

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06.

1. Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. AND
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Computer Literate
• Customer Service

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 06.

Physical Requirements:

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.