Advanced Medical Support Assistant

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant(s) at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff was established to ensure high level efficiency for patient access/re-access to the Medical Center and VA Outpatient Clinics, Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. 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.

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Experience. None.
• Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration. None
• 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 be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non‑VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non‑paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non‑VA hospital or clinic setting.

Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience [or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non‑VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting] 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 a range of varieties as described in this standard, at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Part‑time experience as an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in a non‑VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship to the full‑time workweek. For example, an MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2‑time basis, would receive one full‑time workweek of credit for each [two] weeks of service.

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS‑5 grade level.

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…