The incumbent serves as a Health Systems Specialist and is assigned to the Medical Staff Office, which is under the Chief of Staff at the Albany VA Medical Center (VAMC) and is responsible for conducting analytical reviews, managing and tracking data, and serving as an advisor to VAMC leadership on key processes related to the Credentialing and Privileging (C&P) program of the VAMC.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES: Program Analysis and Support (40%) The incumbent is responsible for working collaboratively with VAMC leadership, healthcare providers, the C&P administrative specialists, and other administrative teams in managing the FPPE and the OPPE for the C&P Program. The incumbent functions as the facility's subject matter expert (SME) for these areas. The incumbent applies knowledge of the C&P process and knowledge of medical terminology, medical specialties and core privileges and procedures to serve as the first line reviewer of the facility's FPPE and OPPE forms, plans, and processes. The incumbent analyzes clinical evaluation plans to assure that they meet standards and are thorough and appropriate to measure and document the clinical competence of the Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP). Coordinates and consults with medical care providers when plans lack specificity or other required information. The incumbent is the lead consultant for the VAMC Report Card data related to the C&P Program. The incumbent gathers, analyzes, documents and tracks program data from beginning to end ensuring program compliance. Conducts analytical assessments for program processes and procedures; and manages data collection and reporting outcomes. Evaluates Our Providers database information and assesses provider State Licensing reporting information. Applies analytical skills in understanding the data, noting key issues, and making data driven decisions that impact key areas of the C&P Program. Identifies issues and recommends corrective actions to supervisor, VAMC leaders, or administrative support personnel as appropriate and estimates compliance timelines for resolution. Utilizes quantitative and qualitative skills to conduct healthcare provider industry analysis studies; assesses internal/external communication to identify substantive issues in meeting program requirements and makes adaptations or recommendations to larger internal processes/policy changes to supervisor; establishes program work priorities to meet compliance and communicates to the appropriate program manager and VAMC leadership; determines baselines for complex assessments and determines which issues require tracking and further analysis. Compliance (30%) The incumbent ensures initiation, completion and compliance of FPPE and OPPE clinical evaluations to include providing guidance and assistance in accordance with all requirements and standards and monitoring the evaluations' status. Implements tracking and monitoring systems for actions indicated by the Credentials Committee, such as licensed provider's exit review forms, Service Chief and supervisory requirements, state licensing board reporting requirements, and state licensing board reporting correspondences. Reviews and participates in the development of privileging forms; provides local VA policy updates; manages two part folder reviews and processes and ensures they are federally archived in accordance with VHA System of records policy; performs VetPro access quarterly reviews; implements monitoring system for Our Provider database; manages facility Report Card data tracking system, tracks data trends, and serves as the primary consultant to the supervisor for the development and implementation of program operations that have a direct impact on data management and process improvements. Reviews and completes quarterly reports required by VA Central Office. The incumbent conducts audits on provider time-limited credentials, provider C&P two­part folders, the provider exit review monitoring system, privileging documents, the FPPE and OPPE tracking systems, credentialing program training requirements, telehealth providers monitoring system, and any Committee recommended actions. Special Projects (30%) Manages special projects for new program initiatives and requirements and for process improvements and changes; provides data analysis support; leads in implementation practices and procedures. Collaborates with VAMC personnel and external medical professionals to ensure revisions are appropriately followed and documented. Provides technical guidance and supports program leadership by conducting and analyzing healthcare provider industry studies. Validates conclusions and recommendations, estimates, projects, or forecasts established from healthcare industry studies and participates in high level multi-functional teams to oversee the accomplishment of long­term plans. Performs other duties within the C&P program as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday- 7am-3:30pm or 7:30am-4pm or 8am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD99877S 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, 06/17/2024. 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-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: GS-09 Qualifications: 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.Qualifying specialized experience 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: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience working within a health care setting; working directly with healthcare professionals and other administrators to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care; and experience assisting an administrative component of a health care onboarding process. Preferred Experience: Verify medical licenses, experience and other information in a health care provider file; Maintaining confidentiality of information in accordance with the Privacy Act; Provides quality control checks on data; managing multiple projects and priorities and meets deadlines; using software applications such as word processing and data bases and internet database applications for data entry, file maintenance and data retrieval; Researching reference materials, regulations, and standards to identify appropriate action necessary to correct problems or issues. ~OR~ Education: 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 in a related field of the position to be filled (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e. hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as course work in health care administration). This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Information Management 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 mostly sedentary. Occasionally, light physical effort may be required, such as that involved with walking, stair climbing, and carrying of light office items. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany 113 Holland Ave Albany, NY 12208 US
• Name: Sarah Cassidy
• Email: [email protected]