Summary

The incumbent serves as a Health Systems Specialist and is assigned under the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service at the Maine VA HealthCare System and is responsible for conducting analytical reviews, managing and tracking data.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following : Specialized Experience : You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) in Federal Service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Health System Specialist at a developmental level, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled .

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.

OR Education : Successful completion of one (1) full year of graduate education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (i.

e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

NOTE : Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

OR Combination : Combinations 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 (i.

e. hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as course work in health care administration).

Only education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. NOTE : Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) : SAA at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying.

Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.

To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following : · Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision· A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.

95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study· A grade point average of "B " (a GPA of 3.

45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study· Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

For a list of recognized honor societies please visit For more information regarding SAA please visit To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following : Specialized Experience : You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) in Federal Service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of 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.

OR Education : Successful completion of 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (i.

e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

NOTE : Copies of 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 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).

NOTE : Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position : Attention to Detail Customer Service Manages and Organizes Information Problem Solving Planning and Evaluating Standards 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.

Duties

The Health System Specialist is responsible for the data analysis, administrative management and day to day oversight of the Non Institutional Care Programs within the GEC service line.

Non-institutional Care (NIC) includes Homemaker / Home Health Aide Program (H / HHA), Non-institutional Respite Program, Veteran Directed Care (VDC) Program, and Contract Adult Day Health Care (CADHC).

These programs each have specific and complex regulations and distinct advantages and limitations.

Has knowledge of the mission and function of VA and rural health needs particularly as it relates to the geriatric veteran population.

Uses this knowledge, in combination with sound management practices to assist GEC programs with identifying procedural obstacles, identifying areas for improvement, problem solving solutions and helping to achieve program objectives particularly in relation to Non-Institutional Care.

Performs a variety of administrative, analytical, and financial functions in developing, integrating, and implementing the program's policies and requirements.

Must have a high level of initiative, be able to problem solve, conceptualize and carry out completed staff work, and assume the initiative to do analysis and reports.

Contacts, screens and enlists agencies to provide homemaker, respite, or personal care attendant services to veterans by researching and enlisting the services of home health agencies, obtaining proof of insurance and copies of State certification from potential resources.

Triages patient calls appropriately and safely, assists veterans and families with identifying agency needs, revising schedules, resolving complaints and reviewing authorized hours responding to a variety situations that demand significant judgment and interpretation.

Works closely with the professional and technical staff and support services to develop proposals for procurement of equipment, prioritizes the services' needs, and oversees the preparation of all required paperwork.

Generates computer forms / reports as needed to facilitate projects, system changes and improve effectiveness and efficiency within the service programs.

Performs other Duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 7 : 30am - 4 : 00pm Position Description / PD# : Health System Specialist - Geriatrics and Extended Care / PD402-00282-0Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required Notifications : This position is a Bargaining Unit position.

This position is in the Competitive Service.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.

Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action).

The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

4701(1) or (3) formerly 38 U.S.C.

4104 (1) and (3) must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System.

Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment."

Last updated : 2024-03-26