Summary This position is located in the Gulf Coast VA Healthcare System Compensation and Pension Service and assigned to the Assistant Director. The incumbents perform all delegated administrative duties associated with the completion of the Compensation and Pension Program Examinations and clinical healthcare duties. All duties must be performed within specific timeframes, and work habits must include being highly organized and detail oriented. Responsibilities Establishes and maintains patient flow within Program. Obtain vital signs. Perform pulse oximetry for respiratory examinations. Perform vision eye acuity test using the eye chart for when indicated. Assist examiner during the examination when needed; chaperone for sensitive exams. Maintain forms, supplies and linens for all examination rooms and offices within the Program. Maintain internal record tracking system to ensure c-files are distributed daily to clinicians and returned to the Regional Office. Monitors the care of equipment and identifies the need for replacements. Receives and directs patients for appointment check-in. Recognizes emergency situations and responds appropriately. Schedules appointments and mails appointment reminders. Assists patients, visitors, and others requesting information and guidance during disability exam process. Check-in and checkout all appointments and encounters. Performs administrative duties and responsibilities related to processing and scheduling disability exams. Ability to record and maintain patient records. Prepare exam rooms for patients. Documents all clinical information in computerized patient medical record system. Check and stock examination rooms and offices on a daily basis. Maintains a system for follow-up for pending specialty tests, consults, requested information, and examinations performed in the community. Enter patient data into database for environmental exams. Perform orthostatic blood pressure (lying, sitting, and standing for exams when indicated. Obtain "pedal pulses" for vascular examinations. Answer phones in reception area and direct calls. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 7:30AM - 4:00PM - Tour of Duty subject to change based upon facility needs Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD02629A Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. 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) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. Specialized Experience: 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, OR, 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. In addition to meeting the IOR above, candidates must demonstrate they meet the following grade requirement: GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 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. Examples of Specialized Experience include: Checks-in and Checks-out patients in a health care setting. Enters, modifies, and retrieves data using the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Identifies problems with medical equipment and properly submits repair requests. Performs clinical health care duties. Stocking and re-stocking exam rooms with linens, gowns, table paper and other medical supplies. Performs program support work that involves scheduling, collection, compilation, research and or tracking of data and program information. Utilizes software applicants to draw and input information. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 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.(Your application package must clearly describe all of the above specialized experience. We cannot make assumptions when reviewing applications). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Clerical Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Communication Computer Skills 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. 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/. Physical Demands The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, the work requires some walking and traveling between clinic areas and individual work offices. The work requires frequent carrying, moving, and filing medical and c-file charts as well as other C&P supplies to and from the clinic sites. Lifting of boxes 20-30 pounds is required. Prolonged standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts, or driving an automobile, etc. 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. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. Additional Information 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. 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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. 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 accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.
