Medical Administration Specialist - Health Administrative Specialist on Duty (HOD)

Full Job Description

The Health Administrative Specialist on Duty (HOD) is a facility-wide position, located in the Office of the Chief, Health Administration Service (HAS), or Business Office (BO), or Medical Administration Service (MAS), or similarly named and organized service with established guidelines.

The position has both the authority and responsibility to represent both the Medical Center Director and the Chief, HAS on all administrative matters occurring when assigned to other than a normal tour of duty.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/20/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07 Medical Administration Specialist - HOD Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: basic knowledge of medical center organization, functions, specialties, and programs, i.e., Social Work, Nursing, Laboratory, Radiology, etc.; experience locating and interpreting regulations from a wide range of sources; reviewing data and information for trends, problem areas, and makes recommendations to management to resolve issues; ability to cope with wide variety of problems and to resolve them quickly and decisively; and explain and organize complex issues in writing; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education; or superior academic achievement (SAA); OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree.

GS-09 Medical Administration Specialist - HOD Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: using a wide range of medical center administrative concepts, principles, and practices; provides technical guidance necessary to meet procedural, legal, and administrative requirements relating to the care and treatment of patients; reviewing data and information for trends, problem areas, and makes recommendations to management to resolve issues; interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to make sound decisions; and identify and analyze complex problems or situations with a range of variables; OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree; or two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education or LL.B.

or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled; OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond one year of graduate education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Delegated full authority of Chief, HAS for non-clinical administrative activities occurring during irregular tours.

Interprets VA rules and regulations relating to determining legal entitlement to benefits relating to hospital admission; nursing home, dental, domiciliary, Community Care (outside VA), and outpatient care; dental treatment; prosthetic appliances; patient transfer; and beneficiary travel.

Provides administrative authority, guidance, and decision making to Medical Officer of the Day (MOD), Nursing Officer of the Day (NOD), and other similarly named Nurse and Medical positions in charge after hours, and all other clinical staff concerning administrative matters necessary for operation of the medical center during other than normal tours.

Coordinates non-routine contacts received at the medical center after regular operating hours.

Acts an advisory resource to all personnel assigned to other than normal tours of duty, such as medical clerks, telephone operators, file room personnel, admitting and clinic clerks and Contact Representatives.

During off tour hours has the authority to administratively approve and coordinate tests and procedures which cannot be done at the VA medical center.

Prepares daily Gains and Losses Sheet and other related statistical reports.

Ensures that check-in processes are properly recorded in the EDIS Software for the Emergency Department, and that dispositions occur timely.

Responds to requests under Beneficiary Travel authorities and VA Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) availability; makes appropriate arrangements.

Coordinates with VA Crisis Line and VISN or regional Nurse Advice Line in assisting Veterans in emergent or crises situations.

After regular hours responsible for initiating prearranged call tree, or for calling in all necessary employees on an overtime basis for emergency needs such as attending to patient care needs or emergency repairs.

Performs duties in the absence of the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support Clerk during off tour hours.

Orients new MODs regarding legal and quasi-legal matters defined in VA directives and interprets VAMC policies as they relate to patient care and treatment eligibilities.

Coordinates with VA Police, Compliance, Service Chief and/or Medical Center Director to investigate unusual incidents involving welfare checks, injury, abuse of patients, loss of personal property or other areas as deemed appropriate.

Receives phone calls and provides patient advocate support to Veterans and their family members after hours.

Assists in any scanning backlogs by scanning medical documentation into the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to ensure patient safety and patient quality of care.

Conducts analytical studies on operational processes, issue topics, or related special projects as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time.

Tour of duty includes weekends and holidays with a rotating schedule including night shift work. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Medical Administration Specialist - Health Administrative Specialist on Duty (HOD)/PD99385S and PD99368S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized