Purchasing Agent

Summary The incumbent is a member of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line under the VISN or medical center. Performs direct medical supply Purchasing and Inventory Management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services, to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans. Learn more about this agency This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Internal to an agency Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency Open to all US Citizens and all current Federal VHA employees only SF-50 Reminder: If you are a current or former Federal employee you must provide a most recent SF-50. Duties Duties to include but not limited to the following: The position has a high degree of visibility due to direct patient care contact with the Veteran population, many of whom are severely disabled; therefore, the incumbent displays a positive image and be highly motivated to seek ways to expedite patient processing, accomplish the VA mission and adapt to the ever-changing world of health care. The incumbent must quickly deduce from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed and/or conduct follow up information requests to the initiator to clarify the medical need or device specifications, based on the Veterans medical evaluation. These medical needs are indicated on Prosthetic Service Requests/Consults. These consults are entered by VA clinicians in the electronic medical record. Prosthetics Purchasing Agents are responsible for triaging consults in VISTA or APAT. Based on the urgency of the need, the incumbent will select the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner. Purchasing staff in PSAS conduct work utilizing independent problem-solving skills in a STAT and routine manner, taking appropriate action based on the request from the clinical provider prescribing the device based on the interpreted instructions on the clinical prescription. Timelines for procurement will be established by local or national guidance via Business Practice Guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures. Adherence to these timelines is extremely important, as a delay from PSAS could prevent discharge from input to output status, delay scheduled surgeries, and/or impact other care coordination efforts to Veterans awaiting care. They obligate purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies, or the rental of services within 30 working days. Action taken must be annotated on the consult as notification to the requestor and all other necessary parties. Monitors to ensure the completion of requests in less than a 90-days period. Action taken must explain why actions could not be completed within the established timeframe. All updates regarding the acquisition process must be indicated on the consults. These updates work as two-way communication between the purchasing staff and the VA clinical staff. PSAS purchasing staff will change the status of consults based on local processes and guidelines and in accordance with all Business Practice Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures. The incumbent will be responsible for using discernment in managing consults and changing statuses accordingly using purchase orders, inventory issues, forwarding consults, and administratively completing them using NR codes. The incumbent will be responsible for managing and monitoring their List Open Purchase Card Transactions By Initiator report / unreconciled orders on a regular basis and in accordance The incumbent will be responsible for managing and monitori…

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