Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to current, permanent Sheridan VA Medical Center Employees, all VA Agency employees, and all other Federal Employees. *** If you are NOT A current federal employee please apply to vacancy CBSU-12087479-23-CC open to the public***

Videos

The incumbent performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of telehealth services at the assigned location and between the assigned location and remote sites of care. The incumbent may receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

• Prepares the clinical environment, which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment.
• Serves as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (VVC) encounters including tasks such as establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections, making introductions between patient site and provider site, following instructions of a clinician to facilitate an effective clinical encounter.
• Serves as an imager and clinical data manager for store and forward telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters including tasks such as capturing images, collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines.
• Takes measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management, cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures.
• Completes standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within scope of training and applicable guidelines; - ensuring that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations;
• Receives and schedules requests for simple and complex intra-facility, and interfacility telehealth appointments using an electronic resource-based scheduling system.
• Screes patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care.
• Monitors and maintains schedules of rooms, patients, technologies, clinical providers and presenters as needed to ensure efficient telehealth operations.
• Provides patient education via approved materials.
• Supports the Veteran in completing patient satisfaction surveys.
• Communicates effectively with clinical and administrative staff at the assigned local site and those located at remote sites of care.
• Configures, installs, troubleshoots, cleans, and performs minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology.
• Ensures assigned telehealth technologies are managed appropriately to include inventory, secure, ready for use, and accounted for by preparing and tracking 3 maintenance work orders, information systems, inventory records, and communicating with the National Telehealth Technology Help Desk to facilitate troubleshooting, repair, and coordination of replacement equipment as necessary.
• Provides 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.
• Maintains 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.
• Maintains 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.
• Arranges and completes test video calls with Veterans to prepare the Veterans for clinical encounters using telehealth technologies.
• Ensures information and resources are maintained for local and remote telehealth providers so they can effectively execute contingency and emergency plans.

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55655A, 556560
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

***This is an open continuous announcement until December 29, 2023. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. ***

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency
A candidate will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

Experience and Education

Experience
One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides 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.

OR

Experience/Education Combination
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable, such as:

• Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at 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.

Certification
None.

Grade Determinations:
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-05

Experience or Education
None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignment
This is an entry level Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) position. It is expected that the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to, schedule telehealth appointments using an electronic scheduling system; obtain and document patient history and pertinent clinical information in electronic medical records; prepares the telehealth room where the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) readies the equipment for examination, establishes video conferencing connection, 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.

GS-06

Experience
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks.
• Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education.
• Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction.
• Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.
• Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment.
• Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters.

Assignment
This is considered the full performance level for this assignment. The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of the Connected Care Services. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to, screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care; communicating effectively with administrative and professional staff, and obtaining assistance for issues that may arise or backlogs that cannot be resolved in a timely manner. Responsible for performing imaging duties in accordance with VHA national telehealth guidelines such as: capture and transmission of clinical images and/or data, obtains consent as necessary, generates consults according to established procedures for each telehealth specialty, transmits images or clinical data to the electronic medical record, provides patient education regarding general anatomy, disease processes and prevention as appropriate, and takes appropriate action based on the providers' findings and recommendations. Responsible for facilitation of real-time Telehealth encounters by providing hands on assistance and reporting clinical observations under the direction of a licensed independent Practitioner or clinical specialist; schedules, confirms and coordinates Telehealth services between internal and external VA and non-VA sites; analyzes own work flow to determine potential problem areas and recommends corrective action to improve coordination between various units/facilities; has regular contact with the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues, equipment needs, problems, data collection and any other logistical issues; responsible for conducting routine inventories and consistently tracking location/status of Telehealth technology located at assigned site; and communicates with National Telehealth Technology Help Desk to facilitate troubleshooting, repair, and coordination of replacement equipment as necessary.


Preferred Experience: Telehealth experience; primary care and/or outpatient clinic experience; ability to work with a team.

References: VA Handbook 5005/96, Part II, Appendix G50

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06.

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 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, 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.