Summary

This position is located within the Health Administration Service at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL and at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) to include; Bradenton, Lee County (LCHCC), Naples, Palm Harbor, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Sebring and St. Pete. The Advanced Medical Support Assistant embraces and supports the mission, vision, and values of the VA Healthcare System.

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Overview

* Accepting applications

* Open & closing dates

02/26/2024 to 06/27/2024

* Salary

$48,396 - $62,917 per year

* Pay scale & grade

GS 6

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Locations

Many vacancies in the following locations:

* Bay Pines, FL

* Bradenton, FL

* Cape Coral, FL

* Naples, FL

* Show more locations (5)

* Palm Harbor, FL

* Port Charlotte, FL

* Saint Petersburg, FL

* Sarasota, FL

* Sebring, FL

* Remote job

No

* Telework eligible

No

* Travel Required

Not required

* Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

* Appointment type

Permanent -

* Work schedule

Full-time -

* Service

Excepted

* Promotion potential

None

* Job family (Series)

0679 Medical Support Assistance

* Supervisory status

No

* Security clearance

Not Required

* Drug test

No

* Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

* Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

* Announcement number

CBTC-12300043-24-EAP

* Control number

778501600

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This job is open to

* Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current facility employees of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System only.

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Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 27, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 15, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

External candidates must apply under external announcement CBTC-12300044-24-EAP.

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant duties consist of but are not limited to the following:

* Serves as a customer service relations provider and assists in the resolution of Veterans' concerns.

* Assists Veterans with scheduling appointments with clinical providers.

* Responsible for the validation of patient demographic and insurance information.

* Acts in the capacity of liaison between patients, team members as well as specialty and ancillary services.

* Provides information and technical support on availability of services, points of contact and necessary authorizations and approvals.

* Utilizes computer technology to ensure continuity of care through accurate patient information, communication and documentation.

* Monitors the status and progress of work and makes necessary adjustments in accordance with established priorities.

* Ensures all training requirements are met.

* Trains unit members in the accomplishment of new tasks or projects.

Work Schedule: The Bay Pines VA Medical Center is a 24/7 operation and has openings for various shifts and locations.

Available sample tours are listed below:

6:30am-3:00pm, 7:00am-3:30pm, 7:30am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, 8:30am-5:00pm, 9:00am-5:30pm, 9:30am-6:00pm, 10:00am-6:30pm, 8:00am-6:30pm, 9:30am-8:00pm, 3:30pm-12:00am, 11:30pm-8:00am to include weekend and holiday coverage.

The employee will be in a training status for the first 30-90 days from 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday. Once training is completed the employee will transition to their assigned tours. Shift preference will be assigned based on availability at the time of selection.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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 existing pay, 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)

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 #: 70662F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo

Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf

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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.

* You may be required to serve a probationary period.

* Subject to background/security investigation.

* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

* Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

* Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

* (1) 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

* (2) Education. One year above high school; OR

* (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

* Certification. None required.

* Grandfathering Provision. All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, [which] are [a] part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

* Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or [changed to a lower grade] within the occupation.

* Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

* If an employee who was converted to [Title] 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

* 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: GS-06 Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Experience - One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-05) grade level.

Experience at this level is as follows:

* Independently performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

* Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes.

* Responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit.

* Scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and/or consults. Entering no-show information. Monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources. Participating in huddles with other MSAs and/or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic.

* Determines appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.).

GS-06 level Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the required experience, candidates must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the GS-06 level:

* 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

References: VA Handbook 5005/117 Part II Appendix G45

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The Advanced 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

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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* Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

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.