The Health System Specialist serves as a High Reliability Organization (HRO) Specialist assigned to the Quality Management department of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare system (VAAAHS).

Duties

PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION Collaborates with QSV and Senior Leadership to develop large Performance Improvement (PI) projects addressing the Strategic Plan or National Objectives. Will coach/train staff about high reliability and process improvement principles to address mid-level projects and rapid process improvement projects; planning at all three levels will assure a robust PI plan. Performs a continuing evaluation and analysis of areas targeted for improvement. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates accomplishment of the overall program by review of reports, available data, studies, projects, and information provided by support personnel. Serves on various hospital wide committees focused on the efficiency, safety, and quality of patient care. Participates in the VISN Systems Redesign (Performance Improvement) Steering Committee and all strategic planning initiatives related to Systems Redesign/Process Improvement at the VISN and facility levels. Participates in all national and VISN conference calls and obtains useful and pertinent information to facilitate local advancement of HRO and Process Improvement principles and strategies. Ensures that the facility is up to date on all HRO and Process Improvement initiatives and proactively identifies upcoming areas of focus. Develops recommendations that integrate principles of a highly reliable organization throughout the VAAAHS. Ensures program requirements are met and planned actions have been initiated and are effective. Recommends and coordinates amendment of program where changes in missions or requirements necessitate a change in program. Identifies need for correction of resource deficiencies, based on interpretation of findings of appropriate studies/literature and data analysis and advises supervisor(s) and VAAAHS leadership of recommendations. Maintains current knowledge of accrediting body requirements and VHA regulation and monitors changes/projected changes in regulations and accrediting body standards to ensure that activities and process continually meet all requirements. COORDINATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES Provides advisory services to all levels of Medical Center and VISN management regarding the requirements and implications of HRO and process improvement initiatives. Provides advice to operating managers and supervisors on risk assessment and high reliability principles, general systems theory, the theory of constraints, queuing theory, Lean thinking and Six SigmaT"' can assist in accomplishing Medical Center, service and departmental missions and programmatic objectives. As facility coordinator, incumbent coordinates all collaborative and training opportunities including VISN led initiatives and HRO/process improvement teleconferences, and other national and VISN learning opportunities, and takes the lead in providing this education. Identifies the appropriate target audiences for each training opportunity and encourages participation of designated facility staff. Provides education and communication about the program to include staff at all levels of the organization. Promotes collaborative working relationships, uses creative problem solving, and practices flexibility and creativity. Acts as a resource person in planning, reviewing, or revising policies and procedures that impact the HRO quality program. Manages situations that require tact and diplomacy. LIAISON ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNICATION Uses management techniques and theories to motivate staff and uses quality improvement principles to continually improve both process and outcome. Understands customer service concepts and works with internal and external customers, as appropriate, to enhance customer satisfaction. Assists with designing work processes and systems that are responsive to customer needs and uses customer feedback to plan and improve services. Models' self-commitment to customer service and encourages the same commitment in peers. Acts as primary liaison with critical persons and groups both inside and outside of the organization independently handling major HRO or Process Improvement program issues. Prepares and submits facility HRO or Process Improvement suspense reports to VISN and National levels as needed. Acts as a facility resource person for all HRO or process improvement activities. Incumbent participates as a member of committees and workgroups relating to the HRO program at facility and VISN levels as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (High Reliability Organization)/PD91060-0 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, 09/05/2023. 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. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: 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 typically include, but are not limited to 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: HRO Advanced Training- supervisor/201 level Clinical Team Training(NCPS) completed Patient Safety experience Quality Management/Performance Improvement experience Strong Interpersonal Skills Strong Customer Service Skills 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: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The work places no special physical demands on the employee. 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.

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 Ann Arbor VA Medical Center 2215 Fuller Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 US
• Name: Eric Earns
• Phone: (989) 397-4981
• Email: [email protected]