Medical Support Assistant (advanced)

Advanced Medical Support Assistant

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) will serve as part of the Community Care Service Line within the Iowa City VA Medical Center. The AMSA 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 resources.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing and/or maintaining effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA Medical Centers, and community providers.
• Participating in team huddles and team meetings to manage and plan patient care.
• Setting priorities and deadlines for patient care.
• Monitoring pre-appointment requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure.
• Participating and providing input in problem solving on operational issues or procedures in team meetings.
• Performing administrative follow-up actions.
• Authorizing care in the community, with fiscal responsibility as a driving force.
• Obtaining results (in the form of requested records) and alerting providers.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Telework: Not available

Functional Statement #: 00000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Please note: Although this is an ongoing announcement that remains open until January 9, 2026, applications will be reviewed starting on October 17, 2025. Subsequent application reviews will occur as new vacancies become available until the announcement closes.

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.

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.

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.

Grade Determinations GS-06 Advanced Medical Support Assistant Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 (full-performance MSA) grade level.

Examples of qualifying experience: Independently performs a full range of MSA duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Advises clinical staff on current administrative processes. Answers phones, greets patients, relays messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, schedules appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines.
• 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.
• Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process.
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.

Preferred Qualifications: Experienced with Microsoft Office, handling multiple computer applications to perform duties, and possesses strong customer service skills.

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and transporting items under 20 pounds.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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:

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

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.