Program Specialist - Telehealth Technology Specialist

Summary This position is within the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) located in Aurora, CO. The primary purpose of the position is to provide support to the Facility Telehealth Coordinator, telehealth clinical technicians, Office of Information and Technology, and BioMed staff. The incumbent performs critical operations and technical program management and support to ensure the sustainment of clinical Telehealth equipment operations throughout ECHCS, including several Outpatient Clinics. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Assists in setting up Veterans' VA tablets and personal devices in preparation for VA Video Connect Now (VVC) appointments ensuring no bottleneck or technology issues occur preventing patient care or missed appointments due to technology issues. Creates tools and "Quick Guides" for telehealth technologies and technical support application, ensuring changes are presented to staff. Provides training to the clinical staff on proper use of Telehealth and Connected Care technologies and systems. Provides coordination and liaison activities to Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) and Biomed, as well as other Services, at the direction of the Facility Telehealth Coordinator. Evaluates, processes, and makes Telehealth recommendations for effective business and organizational changes within Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Resolves audit and inspection results through collaboration with Facility Telehealth Coordinator. Researches and prepares cost estimates for new Telehealth equipment; monitors and tracks equipment orders; supports the installation of new and existing Telehealth equipment. Recommends data collections and analysis strategies for Telehealth technologies' evaluation, including clinical, fiscal, and satisfaction criteria for both clinicians and patients. Provides guidance, support, planning, and consultative services as a resource to offsite technicians and IT/Biomed staff. Files activity reports including a log of trouble tickets, technical reports, and site assessments. Schedules and provides Telehealth technology maintenance, readiness, and downtime. Stays current with technological developments and the required certifications necessary to support Telehealth equipment. Serves as primary point of contact for the Telehealth Management Systems and Telehealth Management Platform (TMP) equipment entry and updates. Serves as a resource and subject matter expert for technology installations, configurations, activations, equipment tests, related peripherals, applications, and software for all Telehealth and Connected Care technologies. Considers all aspects of new or established Telehealth programs, including policies, projected goals, objectives, workload models, resource estimates and usage, issues, constraints, effects, and concerns related to other facilities. Monitors local Telehealth communications network activity. Required to serve in a versatile and flexible fashion to effectively and efficiently meet the ever-changing challenges to Telehealth and Connected Care programs. Expected to work independently to serve the needs of the health care system. Conducts site visits to determine educational and technical needs. Organizes and implements testing for compatibility of systems and equipment with remote sites. Requires travel to facility community-based outpatient clinics (nine CBOCs). Performs other duties as assigned. 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 to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist - Telehealth Technology Specialist/PD13810-O and PD13809-O Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/13/2025. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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: Preferred Experience: prior work experience directly involving Telehealth, inventory, medical equipment management, healthcare administration, process improvement, and auditing. GS-07 Qualification Requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: general telehealth experience; developing and managing technology systems, processes, and procedures to organize and track a variety of important functions integral to the functioning of Telehealth programs; providing training and other resources for telehealth equipment; applying and developing criteria for evaluating innovative approaches and concepts for Telehealth related initiatives OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full academic year of graduate study or superior academic achievement. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts required) OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Only graduate level in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. (Transcripts required) GS-09 Qualification Requirements: 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: troubleshooting/monitoring efficiency and effectiveness of Telehealth program operations; developing and managing technology systems, processes, and procedures to organize and track a variety of important functions integral to the functioning of Telehealth programs; providing training and other resources for telehealth equipment; applying and developing criteria for evaluating innovative approaches and concepts for connected care technology related initiatives; develops procedures and systems for establishing, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of Telehealth equipment by managing inventory lists and the evaluation and monitoring of audits, inspections, and management reviews. 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts required) OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education (graduate education completed beyond the first year) and experience to qualify at this level. The education portion must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Information Technology Architecture Information Technology Research and Development Infrastructure Design Knowledge Management Technical Competence 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: Physical demands include above average ability, dexterity, and strength to perform the work. There will be walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, carrying of items, driving of an automobile, etc. May be required to sit or stand for the majority of a normal tour of duty. Will lift and move equipment up to 20 pounds and will reach above shoulder level for technology installation or in assistance with technology installation. Fieldwork may involve travel for training activities, attendance at meetings and conferences. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.