Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Mount Vernon, WA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Puget Sound VA Medical Center is hiring an Advanced Medical Support Assistant for its Community Based Outreach Clinic in Mount Vernon, Washington. The position provides administrative support to clinical colleagues caring for Veterans and supports the VA’s mission of delivering timely, accurate, accessible health care. Advanced Medical Support Assistants may be assigned to any medical center department or service line with a staffing need. The full performance level is GS-6. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; available shifts will be discussed during the interview. Support for inpatient units and wards may involve day, evening, night, and weekend shifts. This is a permanent, non-virtual position; telework is not available. The position requires U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical. A one- or two-year trial period applies. Applicants must meet the stated education and specialized-experience requirements and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• High school diploma or equivalent; acceptable verification includes specified school records, GED, homeschooling completion, state-issued proficiency certificate, or an official college transcript.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in an advanced or complex clinical setting, using multiple advanced patient-care systems, scheduling across multiple clinics, coordinating services among medical providers, clinics, and outside agencies, and applying advanced medical terminology and knowledge of health care processes, policies, and care-coordination procedures.
• At the GS-6 level, education cannot substitute for the required specialized experience.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with clinicians across multiple disciplines to support team goals and patient care.
• Ability to independently prioritize and organize work to meet deadlines and comply with processes, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively with internal and external customers electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing; this may include preparing and presenting reports and resolving patient concerns.
• Advanced knowledge of technical health care processes related to access to care, including interdisciplinary scheduling, care in the community models, and patient health care portals.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures for interdisciplinary care delivery and care-in-the-community operations affecting patient flow and administrative support, including appointment cycles, outside referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, and provider availability.
• Subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete background/security screening, online onboarding, application documentation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment after that period.

Responsibilities

• Determine health care eligibility for Veteran patients.
• Process Veteran enrollment, benefits, and registration activities.
• Counsel Veteran patients about health care benefit enrollment entitlements and other special programs.
• Obtain information and documentation from Veteran patients for enrollment activities.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule Veteran appointments.
• Facilitate communication between Veterans and facility consult departments.
• Provide administrative support to inpatient units and wards, including during day, evening, night, and weekend shifts.
• Process and maintain inpatient medical records.
• Perform manual and electronic data entry.
• Collate statistical information and prepare Veteran patient statistics.
• Enter physician orders and consult requests.
• Provide reception and communication support for incoming and outgoing customers.
• Use Microsoft Office software to compile data and prepare reports.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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