Clarification from the agency

THIS IS A DETAIL ANNOUNCEMENT NTE 120 DAYS. SUPERVISOR APPROVAL IS REQUIRED.

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The Telehealth Licensed Practical Nurse (TCT-LPN) serves in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth clinical encounters from the patient and provider location as the site telepresenter, imager for telehealth store and forward application, and clinic manager for real time telehealth events. The job scope includes patient education activities, clinical, technical and scheduling activities, and other program support duties as assigned.

• Maintains inventories, tracks equipment issues and trains staff on video-conferencing technologies, telehealth peripherals (such as stethoscope, otoscope, spirometer and total exam camera) and scheduling software used to coordinate, manage resources and connect staff, resources, patients and providers in the manner effective to delivery of services, patient care, education and training.
• Provides advanced clinical technology information to patients, staff, and providers regarding Telehealth education and training processes. Assists the remote and local provider, employees and patients as needed.
• Opens the telehealth patient room, readies the equipment for the examination, training, education, access, and establishes the online, video conferencing or other connections. Creates the appropriate clinical and/or training setting/environment using interactive technology and is knowledgeable of adult learning using interactive technology and maximizing environments to support such activity.
• Coordinates information between facilities to expedite patient telehealth modality to access, promote and ensure maximum of continuity of care. Is the point of contact for both outpatient and inpatient referrals requiring telehealth services. Coordinates telehealth modalities with medical staff, patients, facilities, telehealth services, and emergency services.
• Maintains coordination and consolidates the telehealth schedule to assist in multiple appointments of patients using telehealth equipment/technology and other resources.
• Reviews each planned telehealth encounter for needed resources ( e.g. video conferencing, clinical peripherals, telepresenters, scheduling, medical equipment, telehealth environment) to ensure resources are appropriate and meet safety requirements for the patient telehealth encounter.
• Maintains daily telehealth schedule to assist in scheduling rooms, patients, technology and telepresenters.
• Reads, analyzes and interprets directives, policies and regulations pertaining to telehealth services making recommendations of actions needed to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Independently reviews/analyzes data from the telehealth program for adverse patterns/trends; identifies and proposes development and implementation of solutions.
• Deals effectively with the FTC and other Hines staff to ensure timeliness and resource availability.
• Orients the patient to all telehealth services such as home telehealth, store and forward, and clinical video telehealth.
• Identifies the staff, patient or provider as the presenter. Stays in the room and facilitates the interaction, if this is part of the protocol or as requested.
• Provides hands on assistance to the provider and the patient as part of the encounter, as needed.
• Documents patient reminders, clinical reminders ( as applicable), clinical interactions, closes encounters, answers questions, and performs other duties as needed to optimize patient outcomes.
• The imager will obtain an abbreviated history which may include such things as; duration of diabetes, method of treatment (insulin/oral/dietary control), latest hemoglobin Al C value, last dilated eye exam by date and provider, and past ocular history.
• Imagers will use coding required to guarantee appropriate workload capture. Enter imaging and reading data into the Teleretinal Imaging Tracking Log.

Work Schedule: (Kankakee CBOC) Monday-Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Travel Required: 75% or less (You are expected to travel for this position).

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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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 A DETAIL

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Must possess a current, full, active and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. This is required in order to hold a position as a Licensed Practical Nurse with the Federal Government.
• Must be a graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing that was approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing (Accrediting Commission, NLNAC) at the time you completed the program.
• Must be proficient in both spoken and written English. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 (d), and 7407 (d).

• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:GS-6: Must have completed at least (1) one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meets all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN and demonstrates the following:

• Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
• Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information.
• Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse or physician for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.
• Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education.
• In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff.
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills.
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.
• Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during, and following the procedure.
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice

Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of telehealth experience preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 06.

Physical Requirements: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other.

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.