Summary The Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Prosthetics & Sensory Aids service (PSAS) is recruiting (1) Registered Respiratory Therapist to join there team. The incumbent serves as a Home Oxygen Coordinator (RRT) and works on various assignments in support of the PSAS Home Oxygen program. Services are provided within various settings, including the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), In-patient clinics, Out-patient clinics and the domiciliary through the United States. Responsibilities VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ Major Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent serves as a Home Oxygen Coordinator within PSAS, overseeing the major functions of the Home Oxygen Program, including but not limited to: Home Oxygen prescription review, Invoice review, Customer service, Drafting funding obligations, Conducting home site visits in accordance with PSAS National Program Office requirements. The incumbent may perform limited chart reviews in the performance of their duties to ensure complete prescriptions for home oxygen have been received and may provide recommendations to the treatment team regarding the development of prescriptions and provide technical assistance and guidance on planning and coordinating efforts, to address complex patient needs for equipment, services, and benefits. The incumbent may serve on local and/or national committees, workgroups, and teams to address a variety of issues, initiatives, and projects. PSAS management staff will be kept aware of the outcomes and recommendations to enhance the program. May be nominated to serve as a contracting officer's representative (COR.) May conduct visits to VISNs and VHA Locations to collect, review, and analyze their best practices information and report finding to their direct supervisor for consideration. Incumbent must possess the ability to communicate tactfully and effectively both orally and in writing. Maintains awareness of VA's, VHA's, and PSAS's requirements by governing bodies, i.e. The Joint Commission (JC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF.) Audits the monthly bill received by the contracted vendor, ensuring appropriate spending by the federal government. Monitors and ensures requests for items or services are completed and received under established timeframes; and confers with contractors, vendors, and other health care workers as needed regarding procurement status and other needs and concerns. Monitors and analyzes PSAS compliance reports, Delayed Order Report, assists in developing tools that monitor VHAs quality assurance program. Works in collaboration with supervisor and senior staff to plan, develop, and prepare budget estimates; to develop cost- containment measures for home oxygen equipment and services. Incumbent may also serve on the Home Respiratory Care Team and/or the Home Bound Primary Care committee. Procures materials, supplies, and equipment; familiar with inventory stock at the contracted vendor and works collaboratively with the contracted vendor to provide oversight of government furnished equipment stored at the contracted vendor's site. Refers veterans to proper clinical area for evaluation with guidance from supervisor and senior staff, in accordance with local and national policies. Monitors and analyzes PSAS compliance reports, Delayed Order Report, assists in developing tools that monitor VHA's quality assurance program. Works in collaboration with supervisor and senior staff to plan, develop, and prepare budget estimates; to develop cost- containment measures for home oxygen equipment and services. Incumbent may also serve on the Home Respiratory Care Team and/or the Home Bound Primary Care committee. Identifies and selects national CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes are entered for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting. Ensures all home oxygen equipment and requests are Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved/cleared. Collaborates with clinical staff when devices and equipment require repair or replacement and takes necessary actions to resolve issues. Prepares minutes and/or correspondence to veterans, health care officials, contractors or the contracting officer regarding home oxygen needs and requirements. May interact with Veterans, caregivers, and clinical staff by answering questions related to the home oxygen program, including but not limited to provision of items or equipment, service issues and discharge planning. The incumbent must maintain a RRT certification from a nationally recognized credentialing body. The incumbent does not work in the standard capacity of an RRT. Basic qualifications such as SPO2 reading and/or equipment settings may be obtained when conducting home site visits for the purpose of documentation in the veterans' electronic medical record. Monitors individual performance standards and completes retrospective audits. Serves as liaison between the department and its clinical consumers (i.e., nursing service, administration, and other support services). Additional duties may be assigned as determined necessary for the service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Ad-hoc; Situational Ad-hoc as directed by agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52262-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination / evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor. The CoARC is the accrediting body for respiratory programs at colleges and universities. Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential:. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Note- Exception. RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below. (a) VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA Grade Specific Requirements GS 5 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS 7 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Developmental level) Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential. Note- The exception above is for the GS 5 entry level only. At the GS 7 grade level and above the RRT credential is required. GS 7 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. GS 9 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Developmental level)Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential. Experience- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; OR Education- A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential. GS 9 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the above experience, do you possess the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities? Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. GS 11 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Full Performance Level) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. AND Hold an active license AND RRT credential. GS 11 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 5 - GS 11. Physical Requirements: Most of the work is sedentary when in the role of Home Oxygen Coordinator (RRT). In the role of respiratory therapist, the work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and moving moderately heavy equipment or assisting patients. The work requires the employee to demonstrate agility and dexterity. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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.
