Summary The position is located in Nursing Acute Care Service. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) at the SLCVAHCS provides expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary care deliver model (a team comprised of doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social work). which provides optimal care to acutely ill patients or those requiring post-operative care. Responsibilities The AMSA functions include monitoring clinical flow processes and supporting patient and unit's needs. They assist with the facilitation of inpatient admissions, transfers, and discharges; help with the organization and tracking of medical orders, tests (i.e. laboratory samples, x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasounds); scheduling appointments and consultations. The Advanced MSA's utilize and review various reports including but not limited to the missed medications and medication effectiveness reports and the surgery admissions schedules. Their attention to detail and scrutiny of these reports help to ensure the smooth operation of the unit and timely care for the patient. Further, they participate in unit meetings and actively contribute to its improvement of workflow, systems, operations, and process issues to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met. The AMSA works closely with all staff members, communicating and providing accurate information, and performs the administrative details that are essential to the orderly and efficient accomplishment of the unit's goals. The GS-6 MSA also completes timekeeping. The Advanced MSA uses advanced knowledge of policies and procedures to coordinate interdisciplinary care delivery and performs all clerical, administrative and operational functions of the unit. They are keys point of contact for the coordination of patient care, the AMSA develops and maintains effective and efficient communication with patients, interdisciplinary medical teams, VA medical centers and other agencies. Enter appropriate labs including MRSA laboratory swabs when necessary to ensure the unite meeting facility policy for infectious disease management. Interacts with customer, family members, visitors and co-workers in a courteous, tactful, helpful manner exercising mature judgement and diplomacy, Enters correct information in the Bed Management System (BMS). Keeps Morning Report updated with all gains and losses for each inpatient unite and faxes each evening. Assigns phones and pagers to the correct nurse assigned to the patient in the Scheduler Responder Net. Ensures patients have identification arm bands. Does preop forms for inpatients going to surgery and readies chart. Discharges patients on Authorized Absence (AA) and readmits upon return. Ensures patient belonging note has been completed by nurse and patient belongings are taken by escort to Clothing Room. Follows guidelines for patient privacy under HIPAA. Maintains sensitive information in a professional manner. Calls Rapid Response or Code Blue as needed and directs resources in the event of an emergency. Serves as a mentor and/or preceptor to new MSAs. Orients new team member's (MSAs, physicians, nurses, and other ancillary staff) to the unit's administrative workflow to assist in fostering an interdisciplinary working relationship between healthcare members. Work Schedule: Various shifts - Days, Nights, Weekends, Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS-51588-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must TB test pass pre-employment physical examination Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education. Experience. Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR, Education. One year above high school; OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None require Grandfathering Provision. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above for employment listed above, Specialized Experience. One-year equivalent to at least next lower grade level (GS-679-05) Assignment. The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics and make adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.).Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through My Healthy Vet and coordinates with care team as appropriate; participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage, plan, problem solve, and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers; as needed; assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions; enters appropriate information into the electronic record; monitors pre-appointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure; manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment; informs team members about shared patients (i.e., those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: i. Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met. ii. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. iii. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, electronically, by phone, in person, and in writing, with internal and external customers. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, as well as resolving patient concerns. iv. Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including, but not limited to, scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care. v. Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow, and patient support care administrative functions to include, but not limited to appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc. vi. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-679-06. Physical Requirements: The Medical Support Assistant work is mostly sedentary; however, some walking; standing, and carrying light items are required. Light filing, sometimes involving working close to the floor, is involved. Wrist and back protection can be provided to minimize the risks associated with prolonged use of automated data processing equipment. Education There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level GS-06. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
