This position is located in the Division of Primary Care (Medical Home Port) of the Office of the Nurse Executives at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, IL. The primary purpose of this position is to provide immunization, allergy medications, and tuberculin skin test administration for military, staff, students, civilian beneficiaries, and those employees/volunteers in programs with occupationally required immunizations in a safe and competent manner.

Duties

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. The Health Technician (Immunizations) processes patients through the immunizations and allergy clinic. Conducts close patient interaction in a tactful, courteous, professional, and efficient manner, while guaranteeing patient privacy. Safeguards all protected health information (PHI), at all times, through compliance with the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPPA). Major duties may include but are not limited to: Responsible for confirming patient identity and screening for contraindications, the health technician will provide tuberculin skin tests (TST) and prescribed vaccines to eligible patients. Administers oral, intradermal, intranasal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medication; with proper dosage drawn up as ordered by provider or specification in the standing orders. Interprets TST reaction after (48) forty-eight to (72) seventy-two hours and records administered TSTs into the electronic and hard copy medical record. Interviews patient and identifies risk factors for tuberculosis exposure. Educates patients regarding each vaccine prior to administration in accordance with the vaccination information statements. Recognizes vaccination or injection-related adverse health effects ranging from vaso-vagal response to anaphylaxis. Promotes and assists in the dissemination of information to patients or parents of patients regarding vaccine information, instructions on what to do if reactions occur post-vaccination. Disseminates information regarding disease prevention through proper vaccinations. Operates specialized medical equipment associated with the assigned clinic and commensurate with training (including AED, pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, electronica thermometer, oxygen administration, wheelchairs, etc.) Prepares immunizations requests and follows allergy schedules as ordered by providers or standing order vaccine protocols. Enters and retrieves data from vaccination and health records and databases, to include CHCS, AHLTA, MRRS, DEERS, CPRS and other appropriate computer systems as needed for patient screening. Ensures proper patient identification and eligibility status and updates and confirms patient information. Completes Vaccination, TST, and allergy medication post-procedure coding in a timely manner. Responsible for the safe and effective operation of assigned medical equipment and remains cognizant and compliant with all equipment preventative maintenance cycles. Establishes and maintains stock levels of all equipment, forms, and consumable supplies necessary to fulfil the purpose of the immunization section. Provides administrative support to include patient scheduling, accurate maintenance of logs and tracking databases, patient reception, and answering telephones. Complies with infection control guidelines and practices universal precautions/hand hygiene. Complies with DoD and Navy directives applicable to infection control, hand hygiene, and needle stick prevention. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday (7:30 am - 4:00 pm) Telework: Not Authorized Remote: Not Authorized Virtual: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Immunizations)/PD06143A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2023. Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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 and/or education as described below: GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience include: Experience that equipped you 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 creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experiencerecording, reporting, and filing medical information in order to ensure medical data is readily available, secure, and retrievable for the total patient care process; Ability to follow established procedures and to adapt those procedures to meet the individual patient needs without violating accepted principles of patient care; Working knowledge and competency in the use of various automated software applications, including MS Word, Power Point, Access, and Excel; Knowledge of infection control guidelines to ensure patient safety, safe work performance, bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention, and post-injury bloodborne pathogens evaluation, treatment, and reporting protocols. 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 Health Technician position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, Combination of Education and Experience: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience as described above that is directly related to the work of the Health Technician position.(TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailCommunicationCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Patient Care 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: Work is typically sedentary in an office, although stooping, walking, stair climbing and moderate lifting and carrying are required, along with reaching and prolonged standing, and providing necessary patient assistance. Manual dexterity is required. Incumbent is exposed to everyday risks and hazards of the medical profession (blood borne pathogens, infectious disease). 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Tammy McLemore
• Phone: (612) 217-1446
• Email: [email protected]