Summary The Health Aid - Transporter position is located at John Cochran Medical Center at VA Saint Louis Health Care System. This position provides support to patients, and their families, staff, and visitors. Transporters are responsible for transporting patients to various areas within the medical center. They perform a wide range of support functions, which includes being able to accurately identify patients according to national standards and knowledge of proper positioning of the patient. Responsibilities The Health Aid - Transporter position is located at John Cochran Medical Center at VA Saint Louis Health Care System. This position provides support to patients, and their families, staff, and visitors. Transporters are responsible for transporting patients to various areas within the medical center. The Health Aid delivers and logs-in specimens, assisting the nursing staff by retrieving supplies or other materials such as oxygen tanks. They perform a wide range of support functions which includes knowledge of proper positioning of the patient to prevent ulcers, to support their intravenous lines, urinary drainage bags and other devices during transport. The Health Aid is responsible for observing and reporting any sudden variations/changes in patient's condition, such as acute changes in mental status, during transport. They work closely with the nursing staff to ensure safe patient handling and transport: in and out of wheelchairs, stretchers or beds and assisting patients getting in and out of various vehicles for appointments and discharges from the hospital. The Health Aid demonstrates a working knowledge of body mechanics, use of mechanical and powered-lifting aids, and devices to help facilitate safe patient movement. They respond to all Code Ks, rapid responses, and Code Orange calls within the medical center and serves as a runner. The Health Aids retrieves dirty non-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) from wards and specialty care areas. They are responsible for the physical removal of foreign material, e.g. dust, oil, and organic materials, such as blood, secretions, excretions and micro-organisms. The Health Aid cleans and decontaminates RME according to established procedures. Non-critical equipment may be cleaned and disinfected at the point of care or patient care area and do not need to be transported to Sterile Processing Services unless grossly soiled, at which time it will be scrubbed and cleaned with enzymatic detergent and returned back to the patient-care areas. Transporters are responsible for cleaning the following non-critical RME: SCD machines, IV poles, IV pumps, PCA pumps, feeding pumps, wheelchairs, stretchers, pink transport chairs, Geri Chairs, K-Pad unit, CPM machines, wound vacs, seizures pads, commode chairs and any other non-critical reusable equipment as assigned. The Health Aid visually examines inspection labels to ensure compliance with scheduled maintenance checks, and examines equipment for damage, deterioration or imperfections such as rust, pitting and cracks. They send damaged or outdated equipment for maintenance or to be repaired and/or replaced. The Health Aid actively participates in the section's in-service education and the quality assurance programs. Duties include, but are not limited to: Identifies patient identity using approved methods (wristband, social security number, veterans' name, etc). Verifies the appropriate labeling on lab specimens prior to transport. Retrieves supplies and equipment as needed from supply rooms or other locations to facilitate patient care. Positions and repositions patients to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. Facilitates the proper function of appliances (IV's, urinary drainage bags, etc.) during and after transfers to chairs, gurneys, etc. Monitors patient condition for changes in physical and mental status and reports changes to the nurse. Demonstrates proper body mechanisms when lifting and moving patients to prevent injury to themselves and patients. Performs patient movements utilizing lifting/ moving patients to prevent injury to themselves and patients. Responds to emergency situations to provide support to staff, and function as a runner. Facilitates patient discharge and admission by assisting patients to and from various vehicles and other conveyances. Monitors environment for unsafe conditions and reports to their supervisor. Cleans non critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and other equipment as needed to ensure availability for patient care. Work Schedule: Full Time, Varied tours: Weekdays/Weekends/Days/Evenings/Nights/Holidays, 10 8-hr shifts per pay period. Schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the healthcare system. Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Aid - Transporter/PD06309A and PD06309-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements 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 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2025.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: General Experience: Applicants are required to possess 6 months of General Experience. General Experience is (1) any @type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. OR, Education: Applicants are required to have successfully completed 1 year of full-time study above high school that included study in medical, health, or related fields. 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. Training: Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis. Completion of an intensive, specialized course of study of less than l year may meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Courses of this @type normally require completion of up to 40 hours per week of instruction rather than the usual 20 hours per week, and are usually of at least 3 months duration. Such courses may have been obtained through a variety of programs such as those offered by technical schools and military training programs. To be creditable, such a course must have been designed specifically as career preparation for the work of the position being filled, and must have provided the applicant with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education or training and experience are also qualifying. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Patient Care Physical Strength 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Majority of duty time is spent bending, walking, standing, pushing and pulling stretchers and wheelchairs and cleaning of RME. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. These actions are required in the transport of patients to and from their needed locations, transport of specimens and other materials/equipment to their proper locations throughout the medical center.For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
