Videos

This position is located at the Rockford VA Clinic, 816 Featherstone Rd, Rockford, IL 61107

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) supports the provision of patient care using telehealth technologies which increase a Veteran's access to care and support a Veteran's self-management. This includes developing and delivering virtual and digital technologies which help Veterans communicate synchronously and asynchronously with their health care teams and coordinate, track and manage their health care. This position is typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site (VA Medical Center, CBOC, VA Outreach Clinic, etc.), with duties that may require travel.

Health Tech (Telehealth Clinical) duties include:
- Preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment.
- Serving as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (VVC) encounters.
- Collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines.
- Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management.
- Completing standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within scope of training and applicable guidelines.
- Receiving and scheduling requests for simple and complex intra-facility, and inter-facility telehealth appointments using an electronic resource-based scheduling system;
- Screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care.
- Monitoring and maintaining schedules of rooms, patients, technologies, clinical providers and presenters as needed to ensure efficient telehealth operations.
- Communicating effectively with clinical and administrative staff at the assigned local site and those located at remote sites of care.
- Configuring, installing, troubleshooting, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology.
- Providing established education and training to Veterans, staff and providers on the use of telehealth technologies and serving as a point of contact to answer questions and address concerns related to these technologies.
- Maintaining knowledge of and skill in applying an extensive body of rules, procedures, and operations in telehealth-related technologies and a variety of computer hardware and software used for telecommunications, data entry and retrieval, record maintenance, document and report generation.
- Maintaining regular contact with other staff members and the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues, equipment needs, problems, data collection and any other logistical issues.
- Arranging and completing test video calls with Veterans to prepare the Veterans for clinical encounters using telehealth technologies.
- Completing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Part time, Monday through Friday, Day shift, 16 hours per week.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen
English Language: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
Experience or Education: Must have one of the following to meet the basic requirement for this occupation at the GS-5 grade level:
Experience: One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates my ability to perform the work or provides me with an understanding of the work such as, but not limited to, a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician.
OR,
Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, introduction to health records, etc.). Transcripts Required.
OR,
Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education such as six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included as least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant, or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; OR, Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. Transcripts Required.

In addition to the above, candidates must meet the following to qualify at the GS-6 grade level:

GS-6 GRADE LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:
One full year of experience as a Health Technician - Telehealth Clinical at the next lower level (GS-5) which demonstrates the KSAs related to the duties of the position to be filled. Experience would consist of the following: Scheduling telehealth appointments using an electronic scheduling system; obtaining and documenting patient history and pertinent clinical information in electronic medical records; prepares the telehealth room where the HT readies the equipment for examination, establishes video conferencing connections, makes introductions between patient site and provider site; monitors and maintains electronic schedule of rooms, patients, technologies, and presenters; administers the patient satisfaction survey; cleans and performs minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(1) Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks;
(2) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education;
(3) Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction;
(4) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments;
(5) Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions;
(6) Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment;
(7) Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters.

References: VA Handbook 5005/96 Part II Appendix G50 Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) GS-0640, dated 2/7/2018.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between 7 VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

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, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Note: Evidence of experience, must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on your application or resume. Also, please provide work experience information such as hours per week and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish one (1) full year of experience. The requirement for this proof is specified in the "How to Apply" section of this announcement. To be credible, experience must be documented in the application and verifiable through employment references and/or other means. *Your resume must support your answers in the occupational questionnaire.

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.