Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Quick Facts

Role: Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA), GS-6 full performance level.

Focus: Front-desk reception, patient scheduling, customer service, and maintaining accurate patient demographics/insurance documentation for outpatient clinics.

Work setting: In-person (not virtual). Locations are discussed during interviews.

Description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) provides administrative support and serves as a liaison between patients, nursing and medical staff, outside agencies, community providers, and other VA health systems in the assigned area. The role performs receptionist and scheduling duties for one or more outpatient clinics, updates patient demographic and insurance information, handles calls using privacy rules and clinic processes, and ensures required information is integrated into CPRS to support timely care.

Responsibilities

• Provide receptionist duties and customer service to support timely treatment of patients.
• Maintain appointment schedules for one or more outpatient clinics and support scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery.
• Serve on more than one PACT or specialty clinic area as assigned.
• Validate and update patient demographic information in person during check-in or over the phone.
• Collect, scan, and update health insurance information to support the revenue process.
• Integrate all necessary health/administrative information into the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) via scanning or in-system updates.
• Screen/receive phone calls courteously and timely; determine request type and provide information using privacy rules and established clinic processes.
• Interpret and communicate requirements of VHA Scheduling Directives and perform accurate scheduling responsibilities.
• Assist with training other Medical Support Assistant levels and support efficient clinic operations as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays).
• May qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service.
• After 12 months: up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• After 60 days: possible child care subsidy (income-based) for eligible full-time employees.
• Retirement: traditional federal pension and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA.
• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many carry into retirement).
• Telework: not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required; Selective Service Registration required for eligible males born after 12/31/1959.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements (fingerprinting/background check, credentialing, and medical examination) after a tentative offer.
• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation; complete required documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Accept a 1- or 2-year trial period; continued employment depends on written certification that the position advances the public interest.
• Basic qualifications: 6 months qualifying clerical/office/customer service/administrative experience OR 1 year above high school OR equivalent combination.
• GS-6 Advanced: 1 year of experience equivalent to GS-5 in addition to basic requirements.
• Demonstrated KSAs: cross-disciplinary collaboration; prioritization/organization to meet deadlines; tactful multi-channel communication (phone, in person, writing, electronic); advanced knowledge of scheduling/access-to-care processes; advanced knowledge of interdisciplinary coordinated care policies and medical terminology.

Hard Skills & Technologies

• CPRS
• Scheduling
• Document scanning
• Insurance information management