The Program Specialist serves as the Controlled Substance Coordinator (CSC) and Quality Improvement Data Management Specialist. This position is located within the Quality Improvement Department at the Coatesville VA Medical Center (VAMC). This office has oversight responsibilities for organizational performance, organizational development and regulatory compliance.

Duties

Duties include but not limited to the following: Responsible for assisting with the design. collection. compilation, research. validation. communication. formatting. display and analysis of various types of data and data management systems. Perform analytical and evaluative work associated with program activities across the medical center Participate in projects that will impact the function of services in areas such as policy development and implementation. processes. automation. streamlining, program/service goals and objectives. etc. Provide oversight and implementation of the Controlled Substances Inspection (CSI) program. the inspectors, the education of the inspectors, recruitment and retention of the inspectors, collection and analysis of data collection and identification of trending for further evaluation. Exercise leadership and autonomy to improve patient safety and organizational performance through a continuous performance improvement approach. Responsible for the development of facility policies. procedures and educational training as it relates to narcotic inspections, unresolved discrepancies. and performance measures for the controlled substance program. Responsible to track controlled substances throughout the facility and will design a system that would eliminate inappropriate access to controlled substances without negatively affecting patient care. Utilize flow charts, staff interviews, and auditing tools to identify weaknesses within the program. Serves as an analyst by contributing to the collection and aggregation of data and data interpretation, which will ultimately impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the Quality Improvement Program and other service line programs. Examples of this task may include development and regular reporting of dashboards that compare the quality, volume, efficiency and productivity, and benchmark comparisons. Compile and collects data in a consistent manner from multiple data sources. Support data coordinating and data retrieval in a timely manner to meet scheduled deadlines. Identify. develop and standardize mechanisms for data reporting and validation throughout the medical center for management use and strategic planning. Provide data analysis that includes trends. comparative data, projections. cause-effect correlations, and identification of the information/tools required to manage resources more effectively. Responsible for planning. scheduling, conducting projects and studies. analyzing findings, and making recommendations on ways to improve the effectiveness of operating programs across the medical center. Recommend appointment and release of the inspectors appointed to the Controlled Substance Inspection Program. Coordinates and conducts inspectors training and assignments. Serve as the medical center expert on controlled substance inspections and manages and leads the controlled substance inspectors. Ensure that the required inventories are complete in each area that store controlled substances us outlined in VHA Handbook 1108.1 and 1108.2. Development and implementation of effective, mandated education and training on the controlled substance inspection compliance program for all inspectors. Plan. coordinates and documents training for all inspectors. Establishes a mechanism for documentation and tracking of compliance related training to ensure that data is captured accurately and timely in accordance with VI-JA Handbook 1108.2 and the Inspector General. Ensure that all monthly inspections are assigned and completed in accordance with the VHA Handbook 1108.2. Prepare a monthly summary of findings including all noted discrepancies to the Medical Center Director. Document and report on trends and frequency of non-compliance with the VHA Handbook regarding the nationally mandated program. Monitor the monthly controlled substance unannounced inspections, by maintaining an active presence during the inspections by the inspectors. Document and report on trends and frequency of non-compliance and develop an analytical data review for the Medical Center Director. Work Schedule: Full time Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Controlled Substance Coordinator)/PD009190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Telework: Not available

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/13/2024. 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 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 analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness; working with quality improvement staff; develop polices, prepare correspondence and design instructional guidance on management improvement projects; present findings, design, development, format and data collection proposals for improvement; make decisions or recommendations that will impact the design and planning of medical center-wide initiatives. or Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or 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 combination of specialized experience and education beyond Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingComplianceData ManagementInformation AssuranceQuality 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 considered primarily sedentary in nature, but will involve some walking. standing. bending. and carrying items such as books and papers. The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required to attend meetings at different parts of the facility or to attend inspections at a specific area in the facility or affiliated locations. The work may at times become highly stressful due to the sensitivity of topic. intensity of persons involved, complexity of task or volume of activities. Travel may be required to complete inspections off-site or attend educational opportunities. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Coatesville VA Medical Center 1400 Black Horse Hill Road Coatesville, PA 19320 US
• Name: Laura Batcheller
• Phone: 720-576-3315
• Email: [email protected]