The incumbent primarily serves as the Compliance Program Specialist responsible for the Controlled Substance Inspection Program for all areas of the North Texas Healthcare System and guarantees health care system compliance with VHA directives, handbooks, local policy and procedures and accrediting organization standards regarding the use of controlled substances.

Duties

Program Management The Program Specialist works independently to coordinate all aspects of the Controlled Substance inspection program for all areas of VA North Texas that administers or stores controlled substances or other commonly diverted medications to ensure safety and control of inventory. The incumbent guarantees facility compliance with VHA directives, handbooks, local policy and procedures, and accrediting organization standards regarding the use of controlled substances. Recruits, trains and maintains an adequate number of Controlled Substance Inspectors (CSI). Organizes and ensures completion of the required inventories and inspections by CSI in each area that stores commonly diverted and controlled substances. Provides and ensures CSI completion of all training requirements including, but not limited to nationally mandated training, CSI Certification, local training, and annual competencies. Develops additional training to include updates such as trending facility activity, and program changes and findings to inspectors at least quarterly. Serves as an authority on the Controlled Substance Program and conducts training and education, written and/or oral, as independently determined, for pharmacy and nursing staff. Develops and makes recommendations for written policies and procedures for inspection of controlled substances based on knowledge of mandated regulations. The incumbent serves as the liaison between the facility and any accrediting/investigative body; i.e. JCAHO, OIG or DEA regarding specific questions or concerns of the program. Reviews all documented complaints recorded by the patient advocate, relating to possible diversion activities, (i.e. shorted quantities, mail prescriptions not received, etc.). These reviews are summarized in a monthly report to the Medical Center Director. Ensures all discrepancies are reviewed and resolved timely by the area supervisor and entered into the monthly summary report. Reports unresolved discrepancies to the Medical Center Director and to Police, VISN, PBMS (Pharmacy Benefits Management Service) and OIG for possible further investigation. Tracks and reviews any follow-up actions as necessary. Prepares quarterly and annual reports to the Medical Center Director summarizing any identified discrepancies, trends and potential areas for improvement, including development and implementation of corrective action plans. Data Analysis Formulates major professional policies and procedures through completed staff studies, specific recommendations and professionally developed reports. Participates in systematic reviews such as part-time physician audits, purchase card transactions, CS (Controlled Substance) discrepancies and vulnerabilities, and scheduling audits. Develops, implements, or coordinates the implementation of correction action resulting from such reviews. Incumbent must exercise independent decision making in accomplishing duties. Communication Incumbent communicates on a daily basis with members of VANTHCS facility leadership to include both Executive and Service level leadership. Incumbent must develop collaborative working relationships at all levels. The individual provides leadership to groups and teams; and develops and presents executive level reports for other committees and top management as necessary. Serves on committees in varying capacities including chairperson, voting participant and/or representative of the section. Staff Education Incumbent is responsible for education of staff at all levels on the Compliance and Controlled Substance program concepts, initiatives, and tools. Incumbent supports and facilitates education and communication to engage front line staff in understanding program concepts and tools and their application in improving administrative and clinical processes. Identifies, highlights, and promotes compliance and controlled substance program successes and best practices throughout the healthcare system. 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, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm or 8:30am - 5:00pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (CSI)/PD094250 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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, 09/13/2023. 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-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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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: Developing and providing training; Coordinating and preparing documents for programs or services which are required by JCAHO, OIG, and other accrediting bodies; Developing and presenting executive level reports for other committees and top management; Educating staff at all levels on the Compliance and Controlled Substance program concepts, initiatives, and tools; Communicating on a daily basis with leadership to include Executive and Service level leadership and Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques (data analysis) for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting a wide variety of data to measure the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of administrative, clinical and technical health care programs, and to report results of reviews in a concise, usable manner. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Program Management Data Analysis Communication Education and Training 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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. 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

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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Contacts

• Address Dallas VA Medical Center 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]