Summary

The Health Technician works as a member of the Primary Care Service (PACT) - under the guidance of the PACT/CBOC Clinical Nurse Manager. PACT provides comprehensive outpatient services to eligible veterans. The Health Technician assists medical and nursing staff through technical - specialized or support services for the diagnosing or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions. The incumbent adheres to all Joint Commission and facility regulations - policies and procedures.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ In addition to the English language proficiency requirement - in order to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level - you must meet one of the following minimum qualifications: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled - in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Skill and precision in using phlebotomy needles - tools - materials - and equipment; Performing diagnostic support duties such as taking - recording - and reporting vital sign deviations to provider; Obtaining specimens and labeling specimens for the laboratory; making gross visual observations and identifying subtle changes regarding patient's condition - documenting observations and communicating to practitioners; Using hot and cold packs - changing sterile dressings - caring for patients and giving treatments that require auxiliary equipment; Performing a variety of specialized tests and procedures such as monofilament testing - and doppler exam of the extremity artery - Gathering diagnostic information using specialized equipment such as pulse oximetry - bladder scanner and ECG Machine. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. ~OR~ Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Education: Half a year of graduate education (usually 9 semester hours) that is directly related to the work of this position. One full year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts required. ~OR~ Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. Combination of Education and Experience: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required - and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical - Knowledge of filing - typing - entering data - maintaining records - taking shorthand - and using and completing forms. Patient Care - Knowledge of direct patient care techniques - including activities of daily living (ADLs) - ambulating patients - infection control - and emergency response; uses appropriate safety precautions. Clinical Data Collection/Documentation - Gathers/documents essential and accurate information about patients such as medical history - vital signs - chief complaints - allergies - pertinent health problems - current medications. Diagnostic Medical Testing - Uses proper clinical procedures to perform medical tests (electrocardiography - pulmonary function testing - urinalysis - hematology - chemistry - immunology - microbiology - etc.); measures and records vital statistics or other health information; adheres to quality and infection control protocols. 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.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The Health Technician performs a variety of clinical - laboratory - and administrative work in support of outpatient services
• Monitors patient for adverse reactions - recognizes abnormalities and brings them to the attention of the appropriate medical health care professionals
• Records results and ensures that they are made a part of the EMR
• Maintains rapport with other clinical staff and participates in clinical staff communication and training efforts
• Participates in ongoing clinical education and training as directed by the Clinical Nurse Manager
• May be required to travel to Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) to support PACT
• Independently performs direct patient care activities including intake - obtaining vital signs - ECGs - clinical reminders - and medication reconciliation
• Correctly documents all findings in the electronic health record
• Reports deviations to the nurse or provider
• Adheres to safety and infection control procedures
• Identifies and reports data relative to more complex - non-routine patient situations including subtle changes in patient's behavior or condition or variations related to neurological signs - vital signs - or other parameters
• Recognizes signs and symptoms that may require nursing intervention and reports these signs and symptoms promptly to nurse or provider for possible intervention
• Receives requests or instructions for procedures and interprets requests or instructions for medical or health care personnel
• Responds to emergencies by assisting in the performance of resuscitation measures
• Assist medical personnel in emergent situations as well as performing occasional minor to moderate de-escalation of agitated Veterans
• Responds to medical urgencies/emergencies - initiates BLS and activates emergency medical system
• Positions patient for procedures by explaining procedures - secures patients confidence and cooperation during procedures
• Performs sterile field set up and assist provider with procedures
• Transports patients via wheelchair and/or accompanies ambulatory patients in need of assistance to various areas within the facility
• Performs patient care procedures such as collection of specimens - applying dressings - adjusting simple supportive equipment
• Performs direct patient support work to include collecting information from patients - providing personal patient care - and educating patients on pre-testing and post procedure activities
• Performs test on patients such as Snellen and Ishihara's Color Deficiency
• Takes tissue cultures or specimen samples
• Fits patients for medical devices such as compression hose - blood pressure machines and braces/splints
• Receives and directs patients - answers routine inquiries (via telephone - fax - or secure messages) and makes referrals
• Assists patients in contacting other departments or services as needed
• Receives and responds to numerous unclear inquiries from patients concerning a variety of medical - personnel and administrative questions
• Orders and maintains specialized supplies pertaining to instruments used for procedures in the clinic
• Provides orientation/training to staff regarding equipment or instruments used by position
• Performs administrative tasks such as maintaining control records for specimens and tests and documenting measurements taken
• Test patients - takes measurements - collects - and organizes data from follow up visits - reports result to provider
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 08:00 am- 04:30pm
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD93071A Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires an ongoing mix of potentially long-periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - pushing - and reaching over head
• All patient care activities require PC keyboard and mouse use for data entry in the electronic patient record
• Occasional heavy lifting will be required - particularly for patient transfers
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patient who are combative
• In some instances - interaction with patients - caregivers - and staff can become intense - and the employee may be placed in a position of stress
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• 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/.