Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

This Emergency Medical Technician- EMT position is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Transportation Services (VTS), Ambulance Service, in one of the various VA Medical Center (VAMC) locations, with an emergency room, acute care or urgent care clinic, or other similar departments performing basic life support procedures.
The major duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducts patient assessments, assesses severity of illness/injury and identifies life threatening problems.
• Determines/prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance.
• EMTs shall perform patient triage, take and records patient's vital signs as needed.
• Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness.
• Administers basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing CPR, and/or drug treatments. Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions.
• Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools and supplies which may include ambulance, extrication tools, blood pressure cuff, AED, glucose monitor, oxygen terminal, pulse oximetry monitor, medical supplies, radio communications equipment, and general office equipment.
• Provides treatment as prescribed in protocol. Makes modifications to the protocol, if necessary, within prescribed limits.
• When not responding to Emergency Response Team calls, the incumbent may serve in a technical support capacity to the Emergency Department.
• Selects the most efficient route to and from sites, taking into consideration traffic patterns, health facility locations, etc. EMTs operate emergency transport vehicle and uses telephone and radio communications equipment and systems.
• Adheres to traffic ordinances and regulations pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles. EMTs prepare appropriate patient and vehicle use documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met.
• Provides a thorough safety inspection and operator maintenance (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure, etc.).
• Responsible for taking patients to and from medical areas.
• Assists in lifting and carrying patients into or out of transport vehicles and into treatment facility.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Emergency Medical Technician/PDS10138A
Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The EMT's work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. EMTs may be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection and contagious diseases, is required to work in all types of weather and traffic conditions and faces risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes, dangerous substances, cuts, bruises, etc., requiring the EMT to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. Work may also expose the EMT to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior.

• Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over
• Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds
• Light lifting, under 15 pounds
• Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over
• Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking/standing 8 hours
• Repeated bending
• Climbing, use of legs and arms
• Both legs required
• Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Both eyes required
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Mental and emotional stability

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 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: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Medical Care Transportation Technician - EMT. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes applying skill of body systems (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory) to conduct patient assessments and provide emergency patient medical care; operating emergency vehicles and a variety of emergency/medical equipment, tools, supplies; and using communication techniques and equipment to relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of one (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (Transcript Required)

-OR-

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. (Transcript Required) NOTE: If you qualify based on a combination, your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.