Advanced Medical Support Assistant

The incumbent performs as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) within the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), Resources Directorate, GPM Department. The FHCC is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty, and eligible beneficiaries.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.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/29/2023.
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:
(1) Experience: Six months experience of clerical, office or other work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; or
(2) Education: One year above high school (transcript is required with application); or
(3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable (transcript is required with application).
Certification: None Required.
English Language Proficiency: Medical Support Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3J.Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS:
Creditable Experience
(1) Knowledge of Current MSA Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MSA.
(2) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specific grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MSA is creditable according to its relationship to full full-time work week. For example employed 20 hours a week, or on a time basis, would receive 1 full-time work week of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-6 Advanced MSA
In addition of meeting the basic requirements the candidate must meet the following requirements:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-05. Examples of experience at the next lower grade must include;

• scheduling appointments (including interpreting and verifying provider orders)
• use of Microsoft Office
• keyboarding skills
• knowledge of medical terminology

As well as, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults, entering no-show information, monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other facilities or hospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverage, and other related support work in a health care setting.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.
Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below:

• Ability to collaborate, communicate, set priorities and organize the work in order to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies and regulations.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
• Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process as it relates to access to care.
• Advanced knowledge of managing a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with operational activities that affect the patient flow, patient care, and the revenue process.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

References: VA Handbook 5005/53 Part II Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant Qualifications Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.
Working Conditions: Incumbent works in close proximity to all types of patients and may be exposed to contagious disease.Education: IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Employment Type: FULL_TIME