Program Analyst (TCF Intern)

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. his position is in the TCF program and member of the project team for establishing, planning and directing implementation and ongoing management of Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA) under the supervision of the VISN MCA Program Coordinator.

Major duties: The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

*Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. The TCF Intern position under the Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA), directly affects patient management by providing data on patterns of care and patient outcomes, as well as their resource and cost implications. The incumbent also serves as an MCA Liaison with the VISN for the Medical Center. The analyst is a professional who is well versed in the objectives and functionality of automated clinical and administrative applications as well as the various data repositories throughout the VHA and the interrelationship of these application and data sets to the operational goals/objectives of this Medical Center.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Prepares monthly supply mapping by utilizing multiple reports and service feedback to ensure all cost is assigned to the appropriate MCA department. Prepares labor mapping reviews bi-weekly. Develops reports for review by Service Chiefs and/or their designee. Ensures cost and encounter data is correctly aligned within the MCA organizational structure, which includes performing detail analyses of workload trends, over a large time period for larger internal program areas.

Provides management officials with procedural and regulatory guidance concerning recording of costs and workload. Analyzes the existing workload capture system to determine the best source data for the MCA program. Analyzes payroll costing of all facility staff at the Medical Center to ensure accuracy of data through cost center and budget object code review. Continually monitors, identifies, and resolves costing/FTEE issues with appropriate staff and works to implement processes at the service level that will prevent similar errors from occurring in the future.

Serves as business analyst; gathering, examining, analyzing and evaluating information related to activities requiring action by the Chief Financial Officer, other Service Chiefs, first line supervisors, and clinical administrative staff. Responsible for extracting, producing, and maintaining various monthly management/briefing reports that meet the operational needs of the Medical Center. Presents information via written memorandums and/or presentations to facility leadership and VISN MCA coordinator.

Assesses ways to improve this monthly process and work with other MCA staff to implement changes where necessary. Coordinates work with other MCA staff to insure accurate and timely documentation and submission of data to prevent problems in the MCA functions. Performs monthly audits that involve researching source systems and documents to verify the accuracy of MCA. Reviews any validation efforts with services in the medical center and other MCA staff to show them the impact that their data can have on the medical center.

Performs monthly maintenance duties and audits on MCA to ensure currency and accuracy of data. Assists with the Event Capture program at the VA Medical Center. Builds and prepares reports using Microsoft, Word, Excel, and Power Point. Downloads files from the Inte