Health Technician (PACT Medical Assistant)

The Charles George VA Medical Center Nursing Service is seeking one (1) highly skilled, and experienced Health Technician (Certified Medical Assistant) to work in our Primary Care Clinics providing care to a variety of patients with varying diagnoses. The CMA will perform basic and complex nursing care to our Nation's Veterans in an outpatient setting.

This position serves as a Health Technician (HT)/Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) in the Primary Care Clinic (PCC). The PCC provides outpatient primary care to patients who present with urgent/chronic medical conditions, change in mental/functional status and provide preventative health care

Major Duties Include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrates knowledge, skill and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to both existing and potential emergency situations.
• Answers all incoming phone calls and responds appropriately to patient requests for appointments, rescheduling and cancellations.
• Coordinates between providers, pharmacy, prosthetics, etc. as needed regarding patients requests.
• Retrieves messages from the telephone system and completes appropriate follow-up calling in a timely manner.
• Performs simple treatment procedures such as sterile dressing changes.
• Administers immunizations in accordance with unlicensed assistive personnel directive.
• Collects and correctly labels specimens for delivery to the lab as needed.
• Screens patients use information gathering, obtaining vital signs, verbal and written communication from patients, family and other healthcare team members.
• Checks patients in and out of the clinic.
• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment by keeping assigned areas clean and in an orderly condition and is responsible for restocking supply cabinets in administrative and the clinical areas.
• Rotates dated items and removes those soon to expire or expired, adjusts supply levels as needed to meet demands.
• Set up exam rooms and prepares patients for exams by following current rooming guidelines.
• Assists with special procedures and chaperones provider when asked.
• Performs limited testing, such as glucometer testing and documents results and informs provider of results.
• Employ effective communicative skills relating to patients, staff and visitors. Assist with providing and/or interpreting instructions to patients or family members to obtain cooperation in treatments.
• Utilizes disruptive behavior management techniques effectively.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Full-time 8-hour day tours with occasional Saturdays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (PACT Medical Assistant)/PD04329A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2026.

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): ALL applicants must meet the IOR. An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0640 occupational series. You may meet this by:
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.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS- 5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Knowledge of medical terminology for the human body, physical and emotional reactions, nursing care, and skill sufficient to provide and gather information in patient care/family conferences with the healthcare team. This knowledge is all needed to properly schedule test and procedures.
  • Knowledge of official VA forms or electronic equivalent required to complete tasks and provides adequate documentation.
  • Broad and comprehensive knowledge of VA eligibility requirements sufficient to advise medical staff and other support staff on issues out-patient hospital, nursing home care, dental, etc.
  • Thorough knowledge of regulations pertaining to the appropriate release of information from a patient's medical record.
  • Knowledge of the VistA and CPRS program or equivalent, for retrieval of reports, consults, and progress notes.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to change sterile and non-sterile dressings and to maintain the sterile conditions of medical supplies.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to take a variety of samples such as sputum, blood or urine samples. Pap smears, biopsy specimens etc.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to conduct simple tests such as vital signs, EKGs, Glucometer checks, and record and report results.
  • Knowledge to catheterize and suction patients: and other supporting tasks such as charting and pt/family education.
  • An understanding of the theory and principles which support his/her work and ability to use these theories and principles in performing tasks, i.e. elevated temperature, abnormal blood pressure, skin breakdown etc.
  • Knowledge of equipment terminology; familiarity with drug terminology; and supply terminology and skill sufficient to identify and use equipment, drugs, and supplies properly, and to communicate proper use.
  • An understanding of diseases and illnesses, and skill sufficient to teach patients. i.e. diabetic self-care, and to impress upon patients and the family members the necessity to continue the procedures.
  • Skill and knowledge in establishing therapeutic relationships with patients and in maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with other staff members.
  • Knowledge and skill in the use of computer equipment with a wide variety of software to produce letters, memorandums, and to prepare a variety of specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheet, database, word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, and other similar products.
  • Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with a variety of people from different backgrounds and different levels of understanding. This may include clerical, technical, administrative, and professional (medical and non-medical) people at all levels in the agency, patients, family members, and visitors.
  • Incumbent must of completed college level course of study resulting in certificate as a Certified or Registered Medical Assistant

Preferred Experience:

• 2 years of Outpatient Medical Assistance Experience
• Documented Proficient Immunization Experience/Practices
• Documented Patient Education

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/.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.