Summary
The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) in the VA Community Care (VACC) Service Line. The AMSA works 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 community care clinics, specialties, and/or community resources.
Duties
Duties of this position are, but not limited to: Coordinates with the patient community care team to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Community Care Dashboard, consult toolbox), ensuring that the consults are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the team. They develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team; develop and manage a tracking system such as but not limited to HRSM for follow up care such as consults, tests, etc.). Recommends changes to existing Community Care procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple Community Care and VA clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review appointment availability through a variety of tools (such as but not limited to EPIC, HSRM, etc.) in the community to ensure community care access is monitored to effectively support the needs of the Veterans being sent to the community. Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs. Participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings, performing administrative follow up actions (records management, authorizations, etc.). Incumbents must be able to interpret and communicate requirements and assist in training/mentoring others. Determine eligibility for care and receive referrals as needed, or direct Veterans to proper departments for assistance if needed. Create referrals/authorizations for episodes of care prior to care being received and applying an appropriate cost for obligation management if appropriate, confirming authorized services and validity dates. Work with VACC contractors, vendors/agencies to ensure timely appropriate care is provided for Veterans. Schedule appointments per the scheduling policy accurately and in a timely manner. All appointments will be made with the patient's input. This may require a high level of coordination to avoid patients having to make multiple calls to the medical center or provider whenever possible. Daily review of assigned consults for accuracy and disposition. Follow-up for medical documentation once appointments have occurred. Ensure medical documentation is scanned or uploaded to chart for timely consult closure, and ongoing care needs are met. Manage communication, to include but not limited to the phone lines/voicemails/inbound faxes/secure messages in a timely and appropriate manner. Manage/use all programs associated with VACC (e.g., computerized medical record, VAOS, SharePoints, VSE, RefDocs, Right fax, HRSM, PPMS, VISTA, EPIC, EPSI, CTM, etc and use of portals and databases as needed). Manage vendor communications timely and accurately for proper disposition. Manage consults with local and national contracts timely and accurately or proper disposition. The Advanced MSA will ensure appropriate Authorization using current process, tools and authorities. They will ensure accurate scheduling information is recorded in the scheduling package. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm CST Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Ad Hoc may be available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000
Requirements
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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the facility. All other permanent VA employees. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies All other applicants. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.