Health System Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

34d • Onsite

About The Position

This position aligns under the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS), Quality, Safety and Improvement Office, Quality, Performance, and Accreditation Section. The Administrative Performance Improvement (PI) Specialist position is located primarily in the Baltimore VA Medical Center (VAMC) but also supports Perry Point VAMC, Loch Raven VAMC and Community Based Outpatient Centers within the VAMHCS. The incumbent is responsible for providing consultation, recommendations, compliance information and data to their assigned services as well other services on an as needed basis. The services for which the incumbent is responsible include but are not limited to Facilities and Engineering, Human Resources Management, Acquisition & Materiel Management, Finance and Accounting, Police & Security, Public Affairs and Voluntary Service, Information Resource Management, Environmental Management Services, and Medical Administration Services. The incumbent will routinely perform administrative support Compliance Tracers using standard Tracer methodology, as directed by the Q, PI&A Director Tracers will be conducted to assess continuous survey/accreditation/regulatory body readiness. Findings will be documented and submitted, as required, to the Q, PI&A Director, the QSI Director, and any required committees or councils. In this role, the incumbent works with various leaders and service line SME's to ensure continuous survey/accreditation readiness for all supported organizations. The incumbent will be required to attend council, committee meetings, and work group meeting/discussions, concerned with the monitoring and evaluation of one or more aspects of Quality, Performance Improvement and Accreditation, as well as other organizational committees, councils, or WGs that are responsible for ensuring quality and appropriateness of VAMHCS healthcare operations for assigned Administrative type service lines. The incumbent serves as a technical and administrative Liaison, guide, and SME for preparations leading to and the actual conduct of surveys and accreditation/regulatory agency visits and inspections, assisting the Q, PI&A Director in overseeing the management and conduct of these visits and inspections. Provides guidance and technical assistance in overseeing or assisting in the development, implementation and maintenance of the PI program to evaluating the quality of care/service delivery, customer satisfaction with same and achievement of stated/defined performance measures/expectations/goals for the area or function to which they are assigned. Primary responsibility lies with the Administration SME's and/or Service Chief for the area in which the Specialist functions as advisor. The Administrative PI Specialist provides first line technical and administrative supervision to various VAMHCS personnel supported by the QSI Office. The incumbent is responsible for keeping employees informed regarding policies, procedures and management goals as they relate to the work of VAMHCS. The Administrative PI Specialist assists in the development and evaluation of the goals, priorities, and work of supported care centers, services, and departments in accordance with organizational goals. The Specialist assists supported leaders in understanding the requirements of the accreditation manuals relevant to their service/care center/department, and will assist in the development, direction and implementation of policies pertaining to the requirements of the various services/care centers/departments.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, questionnaire, and an online assessment.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11.
• Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.
• OR Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) 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.
• Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field.
• 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.
• Experience working within a health care setting, working directly with health care system administration and finance services to solve problems in support of policy compliance and program/operational functions; experience with disbursement agreement (DA) administration used for payment of salary and benefit; and completing record data analysis to determine potential or actual fraud, waste and abuse, and to recommend redistribution of resources.
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Nice To Haves

• Performance and process improvement experience
• Knowledge of LEAN/Six Sigma Methodologies

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and facilitates with service line SME's in the development, evaluation, facilitation, documentation, analysis and coordination of short term, mid-term, and long-range plans, programs, and performance improvement projects within VAMHCS to ensure compliance with regulatory standards associated with national accrediting organizations including but not limited to OIG, TJC and LTCI as well as compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Life Safety Code, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other regulations required and enforced by federal, state and local levels.
• Routinely perform administrative support Compliance Tracers using standard Tracer methodology, as directed by the Q, PI&A Director.
• Attend council, committee meetings, and work group meeting/discussions, concerned with the monitoring and evaluation of one or more aspects of Quality, Performance Improvement and Accreditation, as well as other organizational committees, councils, or WGs that are responsible for ensuring quality and appropriateness of VAMHCS healthcare operations for assigned Administrative type service lines.
• Serve as a technical and administrative Liaison, guide, and SME for preparations leading to and the actual conduct of surveys and accreditation/regulatory agency visits and inspections, assisting the Q, PI&A Director in overseeing the management and conduct of these visits and inspections.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance in overseeing or assisting in the development, implementation and maintenance of the PI program to evaluating the quality of care/service delivery, customer satisfaction with same and achievement of stated/defined performance measures/expectations/goals for the area or function to which they are assigned.
• Provide first line technical and administrative supervision to various VAMHCS personnel supported by the QSI Office.
• Keep employees informed regarding policies, procedures and management goals as they relate to the work of VAMHCS.
• Assist in the development and evaluation of the goals, priorities, and work of supported care centers, services, and departments in accordance with organizational goals.
• Assist supported leaders in understanding the requirements of the accreditation manuals relevant to their service/care center/department, and will assist in the development, direction and implementation of policies pertaining to the requirements of the various services/care centers/departments.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree