Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Paducah, KY

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Marion, IL VA Medical Center is hiring an Advanced Medical Support Assistant in the Nursing Operations Department, located at the Paducah, KY VA Clinic. The incumbent provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. The work involves administrative judgment and use of clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and community-care resources. The position uses advanced patient systems, monitors clinic schedules and appointment availability, coordinates with care teams, and recommends procedural changes based on administrative guidelines.

The position is full-time, scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The work is sedentary, with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items. The full-performance and advertised grade is GS-6. The position is in the Excepted Service and requires a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• High school diploma, GED, or state or territorial proficiency certificate, unless qualifying under the stated grandfathering provision.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including scheduling across interdisciplinary care and community-care models and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures affecting patient flow and administrative support functions, including appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, and provider availability.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines to accomplish team goals and ensure patient care needs are met.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines and comply with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively with internal and external customers electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, including preparing reports, presenting data, and resolving patient concerns.
• Complete all required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Use specialized administrative judgment and clinical flow processes to support access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and community-care resources.
• Recommend changes to clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines.
• Use advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model.
• Coordinate with the patient care team to review appointment availability, monitor clinic schedules, and make adjustments as necessary.
• Communicate with patients, care teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies, including supporting inpatient-to-outpatient discharge communications and communications with non-VA facilities.
• Prepare correspondence notifying patients of normal laboratory results and manage follow-up systems for consults, tests, and other care.
• Process incoming patient secure messages through MyHealthyVet and coordinate with the care team as appropriate.
• Participate in team huddles and meetings to manage, plan, problem-solve, and follow up on patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team.
• Set priorities and deadlines and adjust work flow and sequencing to meet team and patient needs.
• Identify incomplete encounters and communicate findings to providers as needed.
• Assist the team in reinforcing care plans and self-help solutions.
• Enter appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Monitor pre-appointment information and requirements to ensure readiness for patient visits or procedures.
• Manage patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether a patient requires an immediate appointment.
• Inform team members about shared patients who receive care at multiple VA centers or in the community.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED