Adv Med Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Reno, NV

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant in Health Administration Service at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System in Reno, Nevada. The role supports the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information and uses personal computer applications and numerous Vista applications. The Advanced MSA works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary coordinated care team, including a patient aligned care team, and coordinates with the team to review clinic utilization using reports such as the Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary.

The position involves coordinating patient communications and care activities, supporting clinic operations, and maintaining tracking and electronic records. The incumbent plans and organizes work with general assistance from a supervisor, refers non-routine and highly technical problems to the supervisor, and reports backlogs or difficulties meeting deadlines or obtaining information. The role requires maintaining confidentiality and communicating with physicians, case managers, and allied health professionals. The incumbent works independently under guidelines, precedents, and regulations, with minimal supervision.

The position is primarily sedentary. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with the tour of duty subject to agency needs. Ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position. The full performance level and actual selection grade are GS-06. Higher-level duties must involve significant scope, administrative independence, complexity, and variety, and be performed at least 25% of the time.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-05) for the GS-06 position, or applicable coverage under the grandfathering provision for current VHA employees in this occupation.
• Creditable experience demonstrating knowledge and skills associated with current Medical Support Assistant responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA inpatient or outpatient medical setting.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines to support team goals and patient care.
• Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines while complying with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively by electronic means, phone, in person, and in writing with internal and external customers; may include preparing reports, presenting data, and resolving patient concerns.
• Advanced knowledge of technical healthcare processes, including scheduling in interdisciplinary coordinated care and/or community-care models and patient healthcare portals as they relate to access to care.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures affecting interdisciplinary coordinated care or community-care operations, patient flow, and administrative patient support, including appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, and provider availability.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
• Must meet all requirements by the announcement closing date of 11/18/2026.
• May be required to serve a probationary period and undergo a background/security investigation.
• Must complete the online onboarding process if selected.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• COVID-19 vaccination is required for covered VA health care personnel, subject to accommodations required by law.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain effective communication with patients, the interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies.
• Assist with communications during inpatient-to-outpatient discharge and communicate with non-VA medical facilities.
• Facilitate and process secure messaging between patients and the care team, and notify patients of normal laboratory results.
• Develop and manage tracking systems for follow-up care, including consults and tests.
• Participate in team huddles and meetings to manage and plan patient care, share information, and support continuity of care.
• Schedule patient appointments and set priorities and deadlines, adjusting work flow and sequencing to meet team and patient needs.
• Work with the team to reinforce plans of care and self-help solutions, and enter appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Monitor pre-appointment requirements to ensure readiness for patient visits or procedures, such as required X-rays or laboratory work.
• Manage the electronic wait list by verifying and validating accuracy and resolving issues.
• Participate in operational problem solving and provide input on procedures during team meetings; perform administrative follow-up actions.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether patients are vested.
• Educate providers about shared patients who receive care at multiple VA facilities or in the community, and bring relevant information to providers' attention.
• Plan and organize work to meet local and VA-wide time frames for analyses, reports, and special assignments; refer non-routine and highly technical problems to the supervisor.
• Report backlogs, deadline difficulties, uncooperative physicians, and difficulty securing information from clinicians or records.
• Maintain confidentiality of information and communicate professionally with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professionals.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive annual leave accrual based on years of federal service, at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period.
• Selected applicants may request credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service; approval is required and not guaranteed.
• The federal government provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed