Advanced Medical Support Assistant - Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Job Summmary

This position serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant for the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville or Murfreesboro, TN ensuring assistance to Veterans by providing a smooth process for management of outpatient appointments as well as providing administrative support to the assigned clinical section.

Who can apply

1. Federal employees - Competitive service
2. Federal employees - Excepted service

Job Duties

The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) who is responsible for assistance to Veterans providing a smooth process for the management of his/her outpatient appointments as well as support work in connection with the care and treatment given to the Veterans by performing a variety of support duties that facilitate the work of an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery for specialty care, ensuring that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and make any necessary adjustments, working in collaboration with the appropriate clinic, develops and maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies. The AMSA will work with the Lead AMSA in setting priorities and deadlines, providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures. TVHS provides a full range of specialized medical services including MRI, electrophysiological studies, catheter ablations, atherectomies, stent placements, laser surgery, dialysis, CT scanning, cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, otolaryngology, anesthesiology, percutaneous angioplasty, diagnosis and surgical intervention of head and neck tumors, peripheral vascular surgery, digital angiography, ambulatory surgery, brainstem auditory invoked response testing, major joint prosthetic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, alcohol and drug treatment, intermediate and geriatric medicine, a geriatric evaluation management program, mammography, preventive medicine, and podiatry. The AMSA was established to ensure assistance to Veterans providing a smooth process for the management of his/her outpatient appointments as well as support work in connection with the care and treatment given to the Veterans by performing a variety of support duties that facilitate the work of an interdisciplinary coordinated care for specialty care services. The AMSA will review the clinics appointment schedule to ensure that clinic utilization is optimized and effectively supports the needs of the clinics as well as the needs of the Veterans. Develop and maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies. This position includes, but is not limited to, work that requires a practical knowledge of computerized data entry and information processing systems, setting priorities and deadlines, participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performing administrative follow up actions; evaluating patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether a patient is vested; educating providers about shared patients who may be receiving care at multiple VA's or in the community, the medical facility's organization and services, rules and regulations governing eligibility and treatment, practical knowledge of the standard procedures, medical records, medical terminology, security of sensitive electronic files, process improvement, and customer service. Perform other duties as assigned.The Clinic AMSA GS-0679-6 will be given direction and guidance by the Clinic Lead MSA, GS-0679-7 and/or the Clinic Supervisory MSA, GS-0679-8.Meets the needs of customers while supporting the VA mission. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, families, Veteran representatives, all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Provide the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately, Work Schedule: Varies, will be discussed during the interview Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Will vary depending upon the section assigned to. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualification

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. Education or Training: Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR One year above high school; OR Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical per VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: MSA's must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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, you must meet the following grade requirements. GS-06 Medical Support Assistant (Advanced). You must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 level. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Ability to operate computerized programs and databases in order to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information/data into or from electronic medical records, scheduling systems and/or reports; Knowledge of basic medical terminology; Ability to make appointments in a clinical setting; Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties, including setting priorities and coordinating work.; Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels; and Ability to identify customer's concerns, perform the tasks required to resolve the issue accurately and timely, and follow-up as necessary to ensure a satisfactory resolution. AND In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities below: 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. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-6. Physical Requirements: Typically, the Advanced Medical Support Assistant must be able to operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one time. Work is generally sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items. Work Environment: The work may be stressful due to the accelerated pace for several hours at a time during peak clinic hours or on days that have a large volume of clinic activity.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

Additional information

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. When all approved vacancies are filled the job announcement will be closed. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 applicant's 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.

Get More benefits details at http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. Note: A current (2024) non-award SF-50 must be submitted for verification of eligibility for facility, VA and Federal Employee status. Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies. Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Financial disclosure not required. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Document Requires:-

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Most recent SF-50 required (Year 2024) -An SF-50 showing your one year of experience and area of consideration eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess the next lower grade level experience, as required by the announcement. -Award SF-50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying one year of next lower grade level experience. -Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter Other (1) Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

How to appy this Job

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/31/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12581603. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Apply Online

Next Step after Apply

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.