This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in the Facilities Management Service (FMS) Line. The primary purpose of the position is to respond to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, sometimes encountering situations which maybe be life threatening.

Duties

Health Technician/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Respond to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, and makes an independent preliminary assessment of the patient's condition and selects from a variety of prescribed protocols using the one that is considered appropriate under the given circumstances. Provides treatment as prescribed in the protocol. The EMT will make modifications to the protocol, if necessary, within prescribed limits. The EMT conducts a complete examination of the patient's condition to determine the nature, extent, and seriousness and searches for medical alert symbols. The EMT determines, with due regard to the patient's condition, if and how the patient can be moved and to which medical facility the patient should be transported. The EMT prioritizes treatments for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of established emergency medicine techniques, methods, and equipment during transport to the appropriate medical facility. EMTs shall perform patient triage, take and records patient's vital signs as needed. EMT perform physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness. The Health Technician (EMT) administers basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing CPR, and/or drug treatments. Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions per established procedures or as authorized/directed by physicians. Responds to cardiac and respiratory emergencies, performs cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; maintains circulation controls bleeding and provides spinal management and immobilization. EMT provides fluid resuscitation by IV and manages trauma injuries, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock. Assists with children, administers medications as appropriate. Observes, records, and monitors patient's condition and effects of medication. Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals. Takes appropriate measures to prevent disease transmission or exposure to bodily fluids. Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools and supplies which may include ambulance, blood pressure cuff, cardiac monitor defibrillator, glucose monitor, medical supplies, radio communications equipment, and general office equipment. Health Technician (EMT) will also assist in transporting non-ambulatory and ambulatory patients as directed. Incumbent will ensure all safety protocols for these particular patient groups are followed throughout the transport. Motor Vehicle Operator: Health Technician (EMT) will also assist in transporting non-ambulatory and ambulatory patients as directed. Incumbent will ensure all safety protocols for these particular patient groups are followed throughout the transport. The Health Technician (EMT) provides a thorough safety inspection and operator maintenance ( e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure, etc.). After each trip the incumbent will ensure the vehicle is ready for the next run replacing supplies and sending any dissecting equipment per hospital protocol. The Health Technician (EMT) ensures the vehicles are kept clean and neat. Upon receipt of the request for patient transport, the Health Technician (EMT) determines the most efficient route taking into consideration traffic patterns and destinations. They are responsible for taking patients to and from medical areas. The Health Technician (EMT) coordinates with the patient and unit the time of departure. The incumbent will assess the patient at this time to coordinate the best method for patient transportation. The patient may be a high-risk patient that may require extra care, special equipment, or oxygen. The incumbent assists in lifting and carrying patient into or out of transport vehicles and into treatment facility. The incumbent utilizes various tools and equipment to transport patients, such as backboards, EKG monitor and defibrillator, and mechanical CPR device, etc. Health Technician (EMT) operates one or more motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight of up to 10,000 pounds. Vehicles are driven though all types of traffic operating primarily in the metropolitan area and occasional long-distance trips. Driving duties include the loading and unloading of patients either by wheelchair or stretcher and seeing that the patient is secured. Work Schedule: Rotating Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (EMT)/PD210210 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 09/22/2023. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing CPR, performing cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; maintaining circulation, controlling bleeding and providing spinal management and immobilization, use of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, Observes, records, and monitors patient's condition and effects of medication, taking blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations, communications in a clinical setting, communication under emergency conditions, transporting patients, following safety protocol, working with various medical equipment, OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one year of graduate education in a field directly related to the occupation of emergency medical technician. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a half year of graduate study. AND, Valid Driver's license and eligibility to drive in all 50 states. (Do not upload a copy of your driver's license. If selected for interview, it will be requested at that time), Current State or National Registered Emergency Technician certification, NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Training: Completion of appropriate training such as inservice 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, generally through the GS-5 level. Such training meets general or specialized experience requirements depending upon its applicability. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsEmergency CarePatient CareTransportationVehicle Operation 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: The work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over, pushing (4 hours), use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), repeated bending (4 hours), both legs required (one leg or foot may be compensated by prosthesis; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted), good distant vision in 1 eye and ability to read printed material the size of typewritten character-glasses permitted 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 Martinsburg VA Medical Center 510 Butler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25405 US
• Name: Melissa Bartles
• Email: [email protected]