The Portland VA Medical Center is seeking a highly skilled Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) to join our Inpatient and Emergency Services Division at the the main campus in Portland, OR VAMC. This position plays a critical role in supporting patient care coordination across the Emergency Department, Medical-Surgical Units, and Critical Care Unit (CCU). The list generated from this announcement can be used up to 90 days to fill any additional vacancies that may arise.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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 3j Specialized Experience: one year of specialized experience in an advanced or complex clinical setting utilizing numerous advanced patient care systems, scheduling appointments across multiple clinics and coordination of services among a diverse team of medical providers and clinics to include outside agencies, advanced knowledge of medical terminology, advanced knowledge of the technical health care processes, policy and procedures as it relates to coordination of care. Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. 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. 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. 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. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/117, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard, GS-679. Published August 1, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but may require periods of standing and walking. There are not any physical requirements for the 0679 series.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf Advanced Medical Support Assistants provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans. Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely, accurate, accessible health care. VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand, believe in and take pride in VA's mission. AMSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to any areas (service lines) of the medical center that have a need. Duties will include but are not limited to: Maintain efficient 24/7 workflow for patient intake, documentation, and administrative support in a fast-paced Inpatient and Emergency Services Department. Utilize VA systems including VistA, CPRS, EDIS, ICBWeb, and ISS to manage patient records, orders, and communications. Verify and update patient demographics, insurance, and medical records during check-in and admission. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of medical terminology, emergency procedures, and order entry for labs, imaging, and consults. Coordinate follow-up appointments, cancel visits (e.g., AMA discharges), and ensure timely scanning/uploading of critical documentation into CPRS/VistA Imaging. Facilitate communication between interdisciplinary teams, non-VA facilities, and outpatient departments to support continuity of and/or transitions of care. Monitor and verify provider orders, manage DNR/Advanced Directives, and ensure compliance with HIPAA and documentation standards. Support discharge planning, surgical schedule preparation, and telemetry/ICA monitoring. Work Schedule: Wednesday-Saturday, Sunday-Wednesday; 7:00am-5:30pm, 9:00am-7:30pm, 2:00pm-12:30am or 9:00pm-7:30am. *Available shifts will be discussed during the interview process. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000