Incumbent is assigned to High Reliability Service within Charleston VAMC. Incumbent implements a Performance Improvement program at the Health Care System level. Incumbent is responsible for delivering Performance Improvement techniques to a broad array of program and services throughout the Medical Center, including Lean, Six Sigma, Coaching, Project Management, and Training. Incumbent will apply High Reliability concepts in this position.

Duties

uties include but not limited to: Participates in and facilitates transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts. Project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects impacting patient care delivery systems and functions throughout the medical center. Pulls, isolates and manipulates data to identify root causes of a performance issue. Develops statistical models to measure successful of performance improvement actions. Converts data into numerous formats using advanced statistical models including statistical process control charts, histograms, paretto charts, and many more. Defines a project scope and goals through a collaborative process with subject matter experts and leadership at the facility, service line or program, or unit level. Leads a team of subject matter experts, front line staff and leadership through a rigorous and defined project management process utilizing multiple tools from Lean Six Sigma, Lean and other performance improvement disciplines to further define the current state of the process. Leads project teams through designed brainstorming sessions to develop solutions towards a specific deliverable or goal during a project. Identifies various solutions approaches and when necessary further leads them through prioritizing exercises with tools like affinity diagrams. Creates designs of experiment that align to project goals and team developed solutions. The designs of experiment are hypotheses which are monitored through data for effectiveness or failure. Designs of experiment are often iterative and will involve multiple solutions in random or sequential order. Develops processes by consulting with subject matter experts in order to develop standard work. Directs the team towards sustainable solutions that are mistake proof. Mistake proofing is designing processes that cannot be performed in error and thus improve the product experience for customers. Conducts experiments and collects data to identify if the developed solutions are affective. Develops control plans, communication plans, risk management plans, and through closeout of the project. Provides consultation to executive, service line, and program leadership by leveraging VA data analytics resources. Identifies metrics performing below benchmarked standards or falling below the upper or lower control limits of a statistically controlled models such as SAIL. Plans and conducts studies directed at reducing errors due to cognitive overloading and human computer interaction failure. Identifies systems designs problems that contribute to human errors. Identifies alternative systems and processes based on Lean/Systems Redesign/Systems Engineering principles to mitigate these types of errors. Develops statistical, graphical, and narrative reports, and communicates these studies to medical center executive leadership, service chiefs, supervisors and other staff. Develops benchmarks, and assigns a schedule or priority level to a potential project based on the needs of the organization and direct consultation with executive leadership. Develops local data metrics and dashboards to monitor projects in progress or performance benchmarks of a project that is awaiting a charter or formal decision from executive leadership for action. Aligns appropriate performance improvement teams and resources, project scopes, and value streams, strategic and operational plans. Identifies projects critical to improving quality outcomes and maximize return on investment of utilized resources. Develops and refines information for comprehensive reports, addressing such elements as cost analysis, work measurements, trend analysis, efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and tangible benefits. Provides instruction to others on Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign or other improvement methodologies principles and tools through formal classroom instruction or small group mentoring. Delivers classroom instruction about Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign or other improvement methodologies tools and techniques to all levels of the organization. Delivers training materials and curriculum consisting of advanced practices of project management, statistics, coaching, facilitation and leadership. Evaluates the quality of care and the efficiency of care processes. All other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized Telework: Authorized This is NOT a virtual/remote position Position Description Title/PD#: Health Systems Specialist (High Reliability/Systems Redesign Specialist)/10571-0 Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as periods of standing when teaching; some walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or similar activities when visiting work sites; and some moderate lifting and carrying. At other times the work is sedentary, requiring the use of a computer.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• 5 CFR 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The 0671 series requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Undergraduate and Graduate Education in a Major study of hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR Specialized Experience of 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 Special Provision for In service Placement: 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 IOR, you must also 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: Applying a wide range of advanced practice, theories, and emerging information in health care delivery analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare systems operations and knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and precedents, major issues, program goals and objectives, develop new or modified work methods. Resolving problems in workflow, work distribution, staffing, performance appraisal, organizational structure, and/or administration. Conducting work in Minitab, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Access. Developing work processes within a Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) programs. Developing project management plans. Utilizing quantitative analysis tools and evaluative techniques such as Control Charts, Hypothesis Testing, Measurement System Analysis, Process Capability Analysis. Working knowledge of High Reliability principles and concepts There is no educational substitution for specialized experience at the GS-12 level. 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. Preferred Experience: Black or Green Belt, Change Management; Lean Six Sigma, process improvement; Project management

Education

Only used if you are basing your qualifications of the IOR 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.

Contacts

• Address Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Lois Auge
• Phone: 706-002-0094 X20094
• Email: [email protected]