Quality and Patient Safety is seeking a full-time Health Systems Specialist at the VA Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Duties

The primary purpose of this position is to support the Quality Management (QM) Department in functioning as a Health System Specialist/Accreditation Manager as an integral member of the management team by applying specialized education, theoretical knowledge, and experience to develop, implement and sustain approved accreditation and regulatory initiatives, provide expertise in coordinating, analyzing, and evaluating accreditation, regulatory, VISN 7 and other improvement requirements. The duties may include but are not limited to the following: Plans and manages the health care system's accreditation and review programs. Round throughout all service lines, consulting with service leadership to identify potential and concrete regulatory vulnerabilities within the service. Ensures that all Periodic Performance Review (PPR) components are entered into The Joint Commission (TJC) website. Determine effectiveness of operational processes, develop a system to track the progress of various improvement and PPR teams, monitor activities of teams, consult with designated team leaders, serve as chair of teams or ad hoc task forces, communicate performance improvement results to management and employees, and develop innovative PPR and performance improvement criteria to reward team efforts and recognize continuous improvement within the health care system particularly those related to TJ improvements. Maintains all the files and databases related to the PPR and advises the Quality, Safety, and Value Director (QSVD) as to the status of each function and individual action items. The incumbent will also track all the action plans identified in the PPR to resolution. Prepare reports and graphical presentations of data related to TJC continuous readiness for the Executive Director, Associate Director, Chief of Staff, Associate Director for Patient Care/Nursing, and other supervisory personnel. Work with the QSVD to develop programs for TJC Continuous Readiness and other accreditation activities, including preparing mock survey schedules, following up with all actions related to mock surveys, developing training materials, and working with the patient safety manager to develop information about patient safety goals, etc. Provide technical advice and assistance to management, various committees, individual services, task forces, team leaders, and team members within the Health Care System concerning functional components of TJC and other regulatory compliance programs. 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: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Systems Specialist/PD11020 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2023. 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-12) position you must have served 52 weeks at the (GS-11). For a (GS-13) position you must have served 52 weeks at the (GS-12). 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: INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (IOR): Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: An undergraduate or higher-level degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. For this occupation, the education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) -OR- Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. -OR- Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; Practical assignments providing an opportunity to apply health system administration skills and principles (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. **In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR), you must also meet the specialized experience as described below** Specialized Experience (GS12): You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would include, but are not limited to: Ability to organize, plan, meet deadlines, maintain excellent records, and follow through on minor details. Skill as an excellent communicator includes listening well, writing with clarity, and speaking effectively to small and large groups. Proven ability to handle sensitive and/or confidential information with discretion and the ability to exercise sound judgment. Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC) standards and the Periodic Performance Review (PPR) process related to meeting all these standards. Knowledge of CARF standards and the review process related to meeting all these standards. There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized Experience (GS13): You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would include, but are not limited to: Mastery of knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessing and improving accreditation culture change effectiveness and related process improvement impact. Knowledge of CARF standards and the review process related to meeting all these standards. Ability to maintain, create, update and train on policies and guidelines, which require knowledge of agency goals and objectives. Expert Knowledge and skill to plan, organize and execute team study work and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations and solutions proposed. Expert knowledge and ability to conduct comprehensive management studies where the boundaries of the studies are extensive and difficult to determine in advance. Ability to independently investigate complex issues, analyze problems, and present written and oral recommendations. Experience developing training programs. Knowledge of The Joint Commission (TJC) standards and the Periodic Performance Review (PPR) process related to meeting all these standards. There is no educational substitution at the GS-13 grade level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence Analytical Thinking Partnering Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This position requires some sedentary work at a desk using a personal computer. Standing for periods will be needed when teaching or presenting a class or working with groups. The position also requires walking, bending, and lifting items such as files, books, and reports. Work Environment: Duties are performed primarily in an office, classroom, or conference room setting. Work areas are adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]