This position is located at VA Central Iowa Health Care System's (VACIHCS) main campus in Des Moines, Iowa, but is responsible for program coverage throughout the VACIHCS system, including Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and all other affiliated off campus leased clinical and administrative facilities. The Health System Specialist serves as an High Reliability Organization (HRO) subject matter expert and leads facility HRO efforts.

Duties

Duties include, but not limited to: Coordinates, plans and implements HRO activities. Provides direct support in planning, designing, implementing, and administering a Patient Safety Program. Assists in policy review, formulation and communications, implementation and evaluation and in setting health care system priorities related to HRO and Patient Safety committees, services and/or program elements. Conducts projects and performs assignments as a Health Systems Specialist for the medical center, including root cause and failure mode effect analyses. Conducts studies and special projects to implement health care delivery programs and improve efficiency and reliability throughout the facility, including community-based outpatient clinics and leased sites of care, as well as all administrative offices and functions that support mission achievement. Works with the VA staff to develop statistical data to develop and implement more highly reliable systems, processes and programs, streamline and improve the efficiency of operations, to increase services to Veterans and their families, and ensure facility health care programs are effective, safe, and produce highly reliable outcomes. Conducts management surveys, audits, special projects, etc. and provides advisory services to operating or management officials. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Ad Hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD304270, PD304260, and PD303840 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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. Bargaining Unit: Yes, AFGE/1272 The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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
• 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: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with coursework in health care administration. OR Specialized experience at each grade level (GS-07/09/11) is defined as 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. Special Provision for Inservice 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. Education: To qualify based on education, your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position with a major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data for decision making and improving health care programs; assisting management in administrative and policy matters in the areas of HRO and Patient Safety. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate level education. OR, Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Applicants may also substitute education for the required experience based on superior academic achievement. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree related to the work of the position with Superior Academic Achievement. SAA is described further in the Education section of this announcement. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Only education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data for decision making and improving health care programs; providing guidance on administrative and policy decisions in the areas of HRO and Patient Safety; collaborating with clinical and administrative management across a health care organization to assess program effectiveness. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, successfully completed two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, LL.B or J.D. if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: monitoring, revising, and evaluating clinical components of the Patient Safety Program; collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data for decision making and improving health care programs; identifying deficiencies and advising leadership in administrative and policy decisions in the areas of HRO and Patient Safety; collaborating with clinical and administrative management across a health care organization to assess program effectiveness and implement initiatives. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M in the 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 equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. 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.

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.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St Des Moines, IA 50310 US
• Name: Kristine Cariaga
• Phone: 612-629-7570
• Email: [email protected]