Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent Orlando VA Healthcare System Employees Only NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Videos

Duties Include, but limited to:

• The RRT/Home Oxygen Coordinator plans both clinical and administrative work to achieve goals within the home oxygen program. They recommend organizational changes within allowable costs and policies to enhance care efficiency.
• Recognizing staff respiratory therapists' needs, they autonomously recommend plans to meet operational needs within the home oxygen program and manage all aspects of the program across various VA sites.
• The coordinator provides clinical information for prescribing providers, ensures that patients receive education on the use of home oxygen by clinical staff or contracted vendors, and follows up with new patients within three months to confirm continued adherence to criteria for home oxygen therapy.
• They document adverse events in the electronic health record, report incidents to the VA medical facility Director and Patient Safety Manager and participate in local and VISN Home Oxygen Committees. Monitoring the home oxygen program, the coordinator ensures timely and effective care, communicates concerns, and conducts quality assurance activities.
• They provide coordinated care for traveling veterans, alert vendors about high-risk patients, and recommend enhancements in services and equipment quality. Additionally, they participate in organizational committees, develop and update policies, and engage in performance improvement and research initiatives.
• Their responsibilities extend to outpatient respiratory programs, maintaining an arterial blood gas program, and coordinating with VA prosthetics and other providers.
• The coordinator handles various respiratory-related procedures, reviews records to control costs, and coordinates home mechanical ventilation care.

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3,section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) for more information.

Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.

Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601series 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-0601series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.

Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12.

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:

i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.

ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. The following certifications are preferred but not required:

a. Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist
b. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate issued AARC
c. AE-C awarded by the NAECB
d. COPD Educator course offered by the AARC

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
i. Ability to develop policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
ii. Ability to implement policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
iii. Ability to maintain policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
iv. Ability to make recommendations regarding new and emerging procedures.
v. Ability to perform complex analytical studies of patient care.
vi. Ability to interpret results to coordinate the management and evaluation of patient care.
vii. Ability to coordinate the work of subordinate staff.
viii. Ability to manage all aspects of a complex patient care program including day-to-day operation, training program resources and fiscal management.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment is designated as an RRT Program Coordinator, whoever sees the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty program at complexity level 1 and 2 facilities only. Programs managed may include, but are not limited to; home oxygen, home ventilators, amyotrophiclateral sclerosis (ALS) clinic, pulmonary procedure lab, sleep/positive airway pressure (PAP) clinic. RRTs may supervise and administratively manage employees assigned to their program(s) by providing leadership, direction, orientation, in-service training and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They perform analytical studies and interpret results to improve operations. They conduct all phases of service delivery, program resources and fiscal management. RRTs coordinate daily operations, develops and maintains policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility and Veterans Integrated Service Network use. They conduct a variety of audits, including clinical practice audits to evaluate operations and productivity and to ensure appropriate documentation of therapy, procedure, clinical outcomes and patient safety. They assist in determining quality and compliance data to be collected and investigates problems related to quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and recommends needed action. They make recommendations for program improvement and expansion based on research and emerging knowledge. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings.

Preferred Experience: Experience in Home Oxygen Clinic or Coordinator position of 2-3 years

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-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.