Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) at Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center — Applications Closed

Job Description

Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) is listed by Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center seeks an Advanced Medical Support Assistant to join the Clinic Practice Management Service.

In this role, you will support patient care teams across Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Mobile, AL, including rural health clinics and inpatient units. You may be assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team, or specialty care setting.

Your primary responsibilities include managing clinic schedules, coordinating with interdisciplinary care teams, and ensuring efficient patient flow. You will use advanced patient systems to support multiple clinics, communicate with non-VA medical facilities, and process patient secure messaging through My HealtheVet.

You will also identify incomplete encounters and assist providers in meeting clinical needs. This position is ideal for current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration who have experience in healthcare administrative support and are looking to advance their career in a federal healthcare setting.

Salary & Compensation

Salary: $46,355 - $60,261 per year.

Qualification

To qualify for this GS-6 Advanced Medical Support Assistant position, you must be a U.S. Citizen and proficient in spoken and written English. You need one year of experience equivalent to GS-5 in federal service, performing duties such as scheduling appointments, answering phones, and verifying patient information.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English per 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• One year of experience equivalent to GS-5 in federal service, including independently performing healthcare administrative duties in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Experience must include scheduling appointments, interpreting provider orders, verifying demographics, and coordinating patient transfers.
• Advanced knowledge of healthcare scheduling processes, interdisciplinary care models, and patient portals.
• Knowledge of policies affecting patient flow, appointment cycles, referrals, and follow-up care.
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
• Ability to collaborate with many clinicians (e.g., doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers).
• Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines while ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Tactful and effective communication skills, both verbal and written.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Recommend changes to clinic procedures based on administrative guidelines.
• Use advanced patient systems to support multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary care model.
• Coordinate with patient care teams to review clinic appointment availability, utilization, and access.
• Monitor clinic schedules and make adjustments to support clinic needs.
• Communicate with patients, interdisciplinary teams, VA staff, and community agencies.
• Prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results.
• Manage follow-up care systems such as consults and tests.
• Process incoming patient secure messaging through My HealtheVet and coordinate with care team.
• Identify incomplete encounters and communicate findings to providers.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and consults.

Conditions & Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Must complete online onboarding process.
• Acceptable REAL ID-compliant identification required for pre-employment (effective May 7, 2025).
• Participation in seasonal influenza vaccination program required for all VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period.
• May be required to wear a face mask if influenza vaccination exemption granted.
• Must meet physical requirements per VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Benefits

• Complete federal benefits package including health insurance, retirement, and paid leave.
• Eligibility depends on position type (full-time, part-time, intermittent).
• Access to the full range of federal employee benefits.
• Contact the hiring agency for specific benefit details.

How You Will Be Evaluated

1. Your application, resume, and supporting documents will be reviewed to ensure qualifications and eligibility.
2. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed.
3. Experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work.
4. The VA performs pre-employment reference checks.
5. After review, a referral certificate is issued and applicants are notified by email.
6. Referred applicants may be contacted for an interview.
7. All referred applicants receive a final notification after a selection decision.

Required Documents

• Resume (no page limit; use the standard Clinical Resume Document for the two-page restricted field).
• SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) for current/former federal employees.
• High school diploma, GED certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or Territorial Board/Department of Education.
• Transcripts if using education to qualify (must be from an accredited institution).
• Cover letter (optional).
• Performance appraisal (optional).
• Other supporting documents as applicable.

How to Apply

1. To apply, open the official application portal and with your the official application portal or Login.gov account. Complete the online application questionnaire and attach your federal resume and all required documents. Ensure your application package is submitted by 11:59 PM ET on August 3, 2026. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email. You can check your application status by logging into your the …

Additional Information

• This job is open to current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration only.
• The 2-page resume requirement does not apply to this position.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent federal agency employees.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Influenza vaccination is a condition of employment; exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.
• A trial period of 1 or 2 years is required.
• The full performance level of this position is GS-06.
• Physical requirements are outlined in VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• Foreign education must be evaluated for equivalency.
• Address: Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, 3701 Loop Road East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.

About Company

The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center is part of the Veterans Health Administration, providing complete healthcare services to veterans in Alabama. The facility includes a main medical center in Tuscaloosa, community-based outpatient clinics in Selma and Mobile, and rural health clinics.

This Advanced Medical Support Assistant position supports the Clinic Practice Management Service, which coordinates patient care across multiple sites and interdisciplinary teams. The role is essential to ensuring veterans receive timely, coordinated care.

Working at the Tuscaloosa VA offers the opportunity to serve those who have served our country, within a supportive federal environment that values teamwork and professional growth.