Medical Administration Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Altoona, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as a Medical Administrative Specialist—Health Administrative Specialist on Duty (HOD) in the Office of the Chief, Health Administration Service (HAS), Business Office (BO), Medical Administration Service (MAS), or a similarly named and organized service. The position has the authority and responsibility to represent the Medical Center Director and the Chief, HAS, on administrative matters arising when assigned outside a normal tour of duty. The HOD maintains continuity of functions and provides medical administrative support to clinical and administrative medical center staff during those hours. The position may be filled at the GS-7 or GS-9 level. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. Work is performed on rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays. This is not a virtual position. The work takes place in a busy, generally congested office area and involves walking throughout the medical center, including its offices, clinics, wards, laboratories, and morgue. Occasional lifting of items such as suitcases, clothing, or medical charts may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Complete all required application steps, including the online assessment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Pass a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
For GS-7: meet the time-in-grade requirement, if applicable, and qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, one year of qualifying graduate education or superior academic achievement, or an eligible combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes knowledge of medical center organization and programs; locating and interpreting regulations; reviewing information for trends and recommending solutions; resolving varied problems; and explaining and organizing complex issues in writing.
For GS-9: meet the time-in-grade requirement, if applicable, and qualify through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, LL.B., or J.D., or an eligible combination of education and experience. Specialized experience includes knowledge of medical center administrative concepts and practices; providing technical guidance on patient-care requirements; reviewing information and recommending solutions; interpreting rules and procedures; and analyzing complex problems.
Provide transcripts when relying on education to qualify. Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
Meet the applicable federal time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date, if currently or formerly a federal employee subject to those requirements.

Responsibilities

Exercise delegated authority and responsibility to act on the Medical Center Director's behalf in medical administrative matters and issues.
Represent management in non-policy-making administrative matters and matters relating to the lawful retention of veterans in the VAMC.
Maintain continuity of functions and provide medical administrative support to clinical and administrative staff outside normal tours of duty.
Support management objectives and decisions in carrying out duties.
Provide technical guidance on procedural, legal, and administrative requirements relating to patient care and treatment, supporting effective use of available resources.
Process administrative issues involving beneficiary deaths, seriously ill cases, elopements, suicides, assaults, deaths on arrival, homicides, code blue events, cost recovery, and facility or community disasters.
Assist in responding to emergencies, determine priorities, and decide the nature of action to be taken.
Assist with computer issues during non-business hours.
Maintain public and media relations as instructed and trained by the Public Affairs Officer until the designated employee arrives.
Conduct analytical studies of operational processes, issue topics, or other assigned special projects.
Review data and information for trends and problem areas, and recommend solutions to management.
Perform other duties as assigned.