Advanced Medical Support Assistant
Cottonwood, AZ - USA
Job Summary
The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) serves as a Clinical Clerk and is a foundational role within the VHA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) initiative to include all interdisciplinary clinics and call centers that support the initiative as well as the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
30 Day Hiring Model
The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination faster assessments and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent predictable and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty.
What Applicants Can Expect
- Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes Human Resources will quickly review applications issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.
- Quick Interviews & References
HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.
- Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer applicants should be prepared to complete required steps such as fingerprinting and background check credentialing and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.
- Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones including referral tentative offer and onboarding instructions.
After meeting pre-employment requirements candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service.
If selected applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing.
VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Typical duties include but are not limited to:
- Performs receptionist duties customer service and other duties assigned for the proper timely treatment of patients and maintains appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics.
- Serves on more than one PACT or in more than one Specialty Clinic area.
- Validates and updates patient demographic information either in person during check-in or over the phone.
- Collects scans and updates health insurance information serving a major role in the revenue process.
- Endures that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to scan or performing the function within their area.
- Screens/receives phone calls in a courteous and timely manner determines the nature of the requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes.
- Interprets and communicates requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and complete accurate scheduling responsibilities and assist in training other MSA levels.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave 13 days of sick leave 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth adoption or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment full time employees with a total family income below $144000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
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:
- Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. 7407(a).
- Experience. No experience required.
- 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
- English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Grade Determinations:
GS-6: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). The experience includes the following but not limited to:
- Interacting with both internal and external customers;
- Establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrative records;
- Verifying and updating demographics and insurance information;
- Obtaining medical information from patients;
- Coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services; and
- Scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs).Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below:
1. 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.
2. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines ensuring compliance with established processes policies and regulations.
3. 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.
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
5. 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.
6. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.
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.
Documentation Requirements for Proof of High School Completion or Higher:If using post high school education to substitute for experience at the GS-04 or GS-05 you must submit a copy of your unofficial or official college transcripts with your Selected to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended applicants must provide one of the following as verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfather provision:
- 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)
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Junior IC