The Virtual Health Coordinator (VHC) is responsible for coordinating Connected Health and Connected Care activities within the Central Iowa VA Health Care System. He/she provides overall direction for strategies and initiatives throughout the healthcare system ensuring that all projects are fully integrated with quality and performance improvement to maximize the efficient use of system resources and enhance the quality of care through the Virtual Health process oversight.

Duties

The Virtual Health Coordinator is responsible for coordinating Connected Health and Connected Care activities and is considered the expert in Virtual Health operations throughout the health care system. Virtual Health modalities include: Secure Messaging, My HealtheVet, Clinical Video Telehealth, Broadcast Communication (Text Messaging), Veteran online scheduling, Veteran facing applications, Virtual Medical Center, Home Telehealth, Store and Forward Telehealth, Rural Health Telehealth, new patient health monitoring technologies, and other tools and modalities yet to be deployed. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Conducting regular program evaluations and preparing reports for regional leadership. Conducting surveys and data analysis, using findings as a basis for collaboration, planning, and organizing both day-to-day and long-term operations of the Virtual Health Program. Initiating program policy and procedure review, renewal, and implementation. Leading local information technology (IT) committees and task groups. Directing Virtual Health initiatives as needed or at the request of the Regional Connected Care and Connected Health Program Managers. Establishing and managing communication plans that identify target audiences including appropriate messages, activities, and resources. Collaborating with Public Affairs and Communication Specialists to promote Connected Health's online presence and web content, leading innovations to keep the facility Connected Health program on the cutting edge. Coordinating personnel resources to develop educational and training programs/classes to increasing adoption of the various Virtual Health modalities. Developing and updating facility-specific implementation plans that include leading team efforts, identifying local providers as champions, and developing roles and responsibilities to meet/exceed Local, Regional, and National metrics/strategic goals. Tracking progress, including monitoring goals/activity status, and initiating performance improvement action planning. Directing and overseeing Technicians with the development of multimedia campaign materials (e.g., printed articles, brochures, videos). Proposing, developing, and implementing strategic plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the Virtual Health program. Managing, administering, and providing leadership for the facility by creating facility deployment plans; formulating contracts or grants; and planning, scheduling, and coordinating work operations to ensure the success of the Virtual Health program. 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 to 4:00pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Virtual Health Coordinator)/PD303730, PD303720, and PD303710 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/17/2024. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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 appointment. Selective Placement Factor: Selective Factors are knowledge, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements and are essential to perform the duties of the position. Applicants who do not meet a selective factor are ineligible for further consideration. To be considered for appointment at any level of the position, you must have proficient skill-level using the World Wide Web, SharePoint, social media, MS Word or comparable word processing software, MS-Excel or other comparable spreadsheet software, MS PowerPoint or comparable graphics software, Microsoft Access and Computerized Patient Record Systems. To be considered for appointment or promotion beyond GS-7, you must have experience in the acquisition, set-up, and use of Virtual Health equipment; experience facilitating, overseeing, and/or providing training to technicians and staff regarding the scheduling of Virtual Health appointments; collaborating with local and regional Biomed/IT offices, overseeing the maintenance of Virtual Health equipment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-7 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to medical administration, clinical coordination, and/or high-level program support work that involved conducting surveys and data analysis, utilizing findings as a basis for suggesting, planning, and organizing day-to-day and long-term operations of a clinical or virtual health program; conducting regular program evaluations and preparing reports; reviewing policies and procedures of a clinical or virtual health program and ensuring correct implementation; collaborating with different departments across a medical facility to complete assigned tasks; developing or assisting with the development of multimedia campaign materials; setting up, calibrating, and maintaining highly sophisticated communication technology. OR, Education: To qualify based on education, you must have one year of graduate-level education; or a bachelor's degree in a related field with superior academic achievement. Education is only creditable if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR, Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. When combining education and experience, only education beyond a bachelor's degree is creditable. GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: medical administration, coordination, program management and/or case management experience that involved applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems related to virtual health delivery systems; collaborating effectively with an integrated care team to support care coordination for patients; performing data analyses and process observations to identify and address current service performance gaps; preparing reports and presentations that depict performance trends in an easy to consume and understand format; and independently carrying out program goals and objectives articulated by local, regional, and national leadership. Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education. OR, Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. When combining education and experience, only education beyond one full year of graduate level education is creditable. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Medical administration, coordination, and/or program management experience providing hands-on, on-going support for complex healthcare situations; participating in health care strategic planning assessment, systems programming, project proposal development and outcomes establishment/evaluation; planning and developing on-going initiatives intended to improve health care access; using a large body of rules and regulations for certifying and accrediting an organization or agency requirements pertaining to Virtual Health; advising on new technology and clinical service provisions; independently coordinating Virtual Health programs; and developing and implementing procedures and practices to allow effective coordination of multiple Virtual Health objectives. Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. When combining education and experience, only education beyond 2 full years of graduate level education is creditable. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceManages and Organizes InformationOrganizational StewardshipTechnology Application 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. 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. Transcripts must be legible and contain sufficient information (e.g., student name, name of institution, total number of credits completed, date degree conferred, etc.) to show you meet the requirements as specified in the announcement.

To receive credit for your education when a master's degree has not been achieved, your transcripts must show evidence of progress through a set curriculum, i.e., it is part of a program leading to a master's or higher degree and not education consisting of undergraduate and/or continuing education courses that do not lead to an advanced degree. Examples of related degrees include, but are not limited to: Master of Sciences in Business Administration, Master of Science in Computer Information Systems with concentration in Health Informatics, Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Public or Community Health, Master of Nursing Case Management; Master of Social Work, etc.An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from your transcript or other official documentation, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.

Superior Academic Achievement

Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) may be used to qualify. To base your qualifications on this provision you must currently possess or be working towards completing a bachelor's degree in interior design or other field that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in interior design, interior architecture, or interior environmental design; or passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination. S.A.A. 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.

1. 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.

Combining Education and Experience

To credit combinations of education and experience, HR staff will first determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Next, HR staff determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Finally, HR staff will add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example:

• An applicant has 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 and 6 semester hours of creditable graduate level education. The applicant meets 50 percent of the required experience but only 30% of the required education since he or she does not have at least 9 semester hours (50% of the education substitution requirement). Therefore, the applicant meets only 80 percent of the total requirement and is not qualified for the position. Undergraduate coursework cannot be used when combining experience and education at the GS-7 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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]