Health Technician

The position is assigned to Nursing Operations Services and transports patients to and from designated locations within the James A. Haley VA Medical Center (JAHVA), including inpatient Nursing Care Services areas.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Duties include but not limited to:

• Supporting safe, timely, and coordinated patient movement throughout the medical center by communicating effectively with staff, coworkers, patients, and families;
• Transporting medically stable patients who do not require complex interventions; retrieving patients from their rooms; escorting discharged patients; monitoring patients during transport;
• Observes and promptly reports any visible changes in patient condition to the appropriate clinical personnel as soon as safely possible, and initiates CPR in accordance with BLS training and immediately activates Code Blue or Rapid Response per facility policy, while following infection control practices, hospital policies, and established procedures.
• The role includes participating in performance improvement initiatives, responding promptly to electronic pages, supports coordination of evening transport workflow as assigned, maintaining a safe and clean environment, completing transport documentation, checking equipment for defects, assisting with inventories, assisting with the orientation of new transport personnel by demonstrating correct safety practices and proper body mechanics, and using communication systems and transport software to receive, process, and complete requests.
• Applies established procedures when encountering nonroutine situations and seeks guidance from nursing staff when needed, follows institutional emergency procedures, safeguards sensitive information, and supports positive patient and family experiences through courteous, tactful, and professional interactions.
• Appropriately refers any concerns related to IV fluid levels, IV pump function or other medical devices to nursing staff prior to transporting patient. Ensures that transport-related devices such as oxygen delivery equipment, masks, tanks and indwelling or external catheters are properly positioned, functioning and safe for movement.
• Assists with patient positioning and comfort measures as directed by nursing staff.
• Assist with toileting and activities of daily living during transport when appropriate and report changes in patient condition immediately to nursing staff.
• Coordinates with nursing units, radiology, and environmental management to improve patient flow.
• Documents completed transports in the electronic transport system. Monitors transport queue, communicates delays and develops reports to support the same. Assists with transport data collection for quality improvement initiatives.
• Serves as backup to the Transport Dispatcher to relay calls, manage computerized transport requests, and support the coordination of transport and escort activities according to established schedules and procedures.
• Uses, cleans, stores, picks up, and returns designated Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), including wheelchairs and other noncritical transport equipment.
• Other duties as assigned

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Work Schedule: Multiple 8-hour shifts available: 0730-1600 or 1130-2000 including Weekends and Holidays. Incumbent will be required to work, holidays, weekends, or rotating tours intermittently.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

To qualify for this Health Technician GS-4 position, applicant(s) must meet at least one of the following minimum qualification requirements.

EXPERIENCE: Requires six months of general experience described as (l) 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; plus, six months of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Experience that provided a basic understanding of patient transport services and hospital policies and procedures related to transport functions, basic patient care, customer service, and patient incidents.
-OR-
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position.

-OR-
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. Only education in excess of one year (excess of 30 semester hours) is creditable, combined with experience to meet this requirement.
You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Skills
• Manages and Organizes Information
• Organizational Awareness

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: This work is physically demanding, requiring periods of walking, sitting, and regular bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying supplies, and similar activities. The use of mechanical lifts when necessary and good body mechanics is expected. Selectee will be caring for patients who may be uncooperative and combative due to physical or emotional illness. Selectee must have the ability to function under pressure/stress typically associated with daily duties.

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/.

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

• 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 identification 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 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.