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Health Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and is administratively aligned with the Nursing Services Directorate of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/15/2022 to 02/05/2022
Salary
$40,153 to - $52,198 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Evanston, IL
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NC-1135501-22-CD
Control number
631513800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Duties

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VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

  • The incumbent provides patient care/support services to an adult population of patients that are characterized by a very significant number of older male patients. Within these broad categories, the employee must tailor patient care/support service to meet the needs of individual patients. This includes the responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs, and delivery of services that are responsive to the concerns of individual patient to the extent possible.
  • Draws blood and processes specimens for transport. Uses special drawing techniques such as butterfly needles, vacutainers, and syringes. Assures appropriate tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn.
  • Review's patient lab orders in CPRS; decides which orders should be used; merges duplicate orders and notifies providers when orders are not accessible or have not yet been received into the system.
  • Adheres to patient safety, infection control and universal precautions as described in current hospital policies at all times.
  • Instructs patients in proper sterile midstream collection, 24-hour urine collections and collection of urine specimens for culture and sensitivity. Explains the collection of fecal specimens for fat and occult blood.
  • Stocks, inventories, and request supplies supporting lab functions.
  • Responds to, reports and assists in emergency situations. Utilizes standard CPR and first aid procedures for the care of patients who become ill, faint or arrest while having blood drawn.
  • Accepts and enters requests into the FHCC Computer system, using a multitude of computer codes to identify individual types of laboratory tests.
  • Perform toenail clippings per provider orders.
  • Performs Automated External Defibrillator (AED) checks as per facility protocols.
  • Performs and records EKG's as per provider order. Reviews EKG with Provider prior to completion of the patient EKG appointment. Electronically transmits provider reviewed/approved EKGs to Cardiology for verification.
  • Cleans equipment per Reusable Medical Equipment.
  • Measures Vital Signs using automatic and manual equipment, and records readings in patient's Electronic Health Record.
  • Completes CPRS clinical reminders within scope of practice.
  • Provide one on one observation to patients identified as being suicidal /homicidal until relieved of duty
  • Completes and maintains FHCC Immunization Certification, and administers Vaccinations per protocol, to veterans who have been screened as eligible by licensed staff; nursing or provider.
  • Cleaning stocking, inventories, and requests, supplies as needed for use in drawing blood, accessioning, and processing areas.
  • Maintains Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
  • Utilize telephone visits and secure messaging to contact patients regarding patient care information not related to clinic assessment.
  • Managing inbound/outbound fax communications, communicating with FHCC Specialty Clinics and community provider offices.
  • Participate in performance improvement data collection,
  • Coordinates with community providers to ensure efficient continuity of care.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30AM - 4:00PM
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD06543A
Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, standing, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching.

Requirements

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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.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: basic knowledge of circulatory anatomy and physiology, location of veins and arteries and their functioning characteristics. Comprehensive knowledge of wide variety of routine and special specimen testing requirements. Specimen handling, knowledge of Microsoft programs, labor testing methods, medical terminology, policies and procedures related to patient care and safety, aseptic principles, infection control, communication skills, security information systems, security and confidentiality.
OR
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.
OR
Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high-school. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school.

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.

Preferred experience: Computer Skills, Customer Service, Patient Care, Specimen Collection, blood draws, specimen collection and EKG's.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

OVID-19 Vaccination Requirement- As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

COVID-19 Pandemic Expanded Telework Program - Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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.

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