Advanced Medical Support Assistant-Recruitment Incentive Authorized - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, WA is looking to fill Advanced Medical Support Assistant positions within the Health Administration Service Line. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be 06/04/2024, thereafter, lists will be sent on an as needed basis. **Recruitment incentives may be authorized for new Federal appointees, in accordance with agency policy.** Responsibilities VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Advanced Medical Support Assistants (AMSAs) in Health Administration Service Line provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans. Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely, accurate, accessible health care. VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand, believe in and take pride in VA's mission. AMSAs are essential to the success of this mission. Duties will include but are not limited to: - Determining health care eligibility for Veteran patients. - Administrative processing of Veteran patients in enrollment, benefits, and registration. - Counseling Veteran patients regarding entitlement enrollment for health care benefits and other special programs. - Obtaining essential information and documentation from Veteran patients for enrollment activities. - Performing scheduling functions for Veteran patients including appointments, cancellations, and re-scheduling. - Facilitating communication between Veterans and other facility consult departments. - Support of inpatient units and wards with administrative duties during day, evening, night, and weekend shifts. - Processing and record keeping of inpatient medical records. - Manual and electronic data entry. - Collation of statistical information. - Entry of Physician orders and consult requests. - Prepares Veteran patient statistics. - Providing reception to incoming and outgoing customers and communication. - Utilizes Microsoft Office software to compile data and formulate reports. Work Schedule: Typical tour of duty is Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. *Available shifts will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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 $144,000 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) Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Qualifications 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. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience in an advanced or complex clinical setting utilizing numerous advanced patient care systems, scheduling appointments across multiple clinics and coordination of services among a diverse team of medical providers and clinics to include outside agencies, advanced knowledge of medical terminology, advanced knowledge of the technical health care processes, policy and procedures as it relates to coordination of care. 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. 4. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard, GS-679. Published August 1, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but may require periods of standing and walking. There are not any physical requirements for the 0679 series. Education Education is not used for substitution of experience at the GS 6 level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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 Federal work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. 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. 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.