Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Spartanburg, SC

16d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant serves as a Consult Coordinator for the Spartanburg VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), collaborating with interdisciplinary care teams and VA and non-VA providers, specialists, hospitals, and diagnostic and treatment facilities. The role supports coordinated care across PACT, specialty clinics, Compensation and Pension, and Community Care by providing clerical and customer-service support that helps ensure patients receive timely treatment.

The position maintains clinic appointment schedules, coordinates with providers regarding acceptance of VA patients and payments, prepares required pre-appointment documents, schedules the appropriate level of care, and documents scheduling in the relevant consult. It obtains medical documentation from community providers, scans records into the appropriate consult in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and alerts VA providers to support continuity of care. The MSA coordinates internal and external care between customers and providers, processes consults according to clinic procedures and guidelines, and enters required authorizations using the correct Fund Control Point/Obligation number and cost estimates.

The position is based at the Spartanburg VA CBOC. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The role involves prolonged sitting at a desk in an open area with several cubicles; minor lifting may be required.

Requirements

• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• 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 following processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers by electronic means, phone, in person, and in writing; may include preparing reports, presenting data, and resolving patient concerns.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including interdisciplinary scheduling, Community Care models, and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary care and Community Care operations affecting patient flow and administrative support, including appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, and provider availability.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Registration with Selective Service is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successful completion of a background/security investigation and the required online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Completion of all application requirements in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Service of a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Nice To Haves

• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the grandfathering provision if they meet the applicable VA qualification-standard criteria.

Responsibilities

• Maintain appointment schedules for the CBOC.
• Communicate with CBOC providers to confirm they accept VA patients and payments.
• Prepare required pre-appointment documents, schedule the appropriate level of care, and document schedules in the appropriate consult.
• Obtain medical documentation from community providers, scan it to the appropriate consult in CPRS, and alert VA providers to support continuity of care.
• Coordinate internal and external care between customers and providers.
• Process consults according to CBOC procedures and guidelines.
• Enter appropriate authorizations, when required, using the correct Fund Control Point/Obligation number and cost estimates.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary care teams across PACT, specialty clinics, Compensation and Pension, and Community Care.
• Coordinate with clinicians, care teams, VA medical centers, community providers, and other agencies to support patient care and access.
• Monitor clinic appointment availability and schedules, adjusting them as needed to support clinic and patient needs.
• Manage follow-up care and consults, communicate patient information to care teams, and support care transitions.
• Participate in team huddles and meetings; share information, help plan and problem-solve, and follow up on patient care.
• Set priorities and deadlines, organize and sequence work, and ensure compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Identify incomplete encounters and communicate findings to providers as needed.
• Monitor pre-appointment information and requirements to ensure readiness for visits or procedures.
• Use patient systems to verify and validate information, resolve issues, and enter appropriate information into the electronic record.
• Evaluate patient information and clinic schedules to determine whether immediate appointments are needed.
• Communicate tactfully and effectively with internal and external customers by phone, electronically, in person, and in writing; address patient concerns.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid leave per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify after 60 days of employment for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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