You will serve the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS), Seattle Division, and operate as a Health Technician with the Patient Escort Service (PES), a subsection of the Patient Experience Office, within the Nurse Executive Office. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidate. Applicants will be reviewed every other week starting 11/20/2023.

Duties

You will rend mobility assistance to patients requiring transport by wheelchair, stretchers, medical beds, or other clinical contraptions. You will manage a centralized dispatch operation. You will assist doctors and nurses in managing clinical emergencies (codes). You will use Safe Patient Handling equipment and techniques to perform patient lifts, transfers, and other assistive maneuvers.You will manage a high number of calls using multiple rollover lines. You will write down caller information and promptly respond. You will deal calmly and courteously with callers, some of whom may be upset or irate. You will transport patients that are receiving IV sedations, blood product transfusions, chemotherapy agents, or are on cardiac monitors only when RNs/Physicians accompany such transports. You will procure blood products from the lab in accordance with Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) policy and procedures. You will transport collected specimens to the lab for analysis; delivers specimens to designated areas in the lab; time stamps dispatch sheet upon delivery of specimens. You will perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Various Tours available, will be discussed during interview. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD40984A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Physical Requirements: The incumbent works long periods (possibly hours) on his/her feet standing, walking, pushing, pulling, bending, lifting and utilizing SPH equipment. When performing dispatch operations, the incumbent sits at a desk (possibly for hours) and answers a phone and writes down caller information at the repetitive rate of about 25 calls per hour. When performing transport duties, the incumbent is able to carry out a minimum of four transports per hour or 30 transports per 8-hour tour of duty. Must have physical control of one's torsos and extremities, as necessary, to execute gross and fine motor movements within normal ranges of motion. Possesses sufficient strength in legs to ambulate while performing manual/motorized transports. Possesses sufficient strength to grip and control movement of equipment for the durations of transports. Must be able to physically walk up and down stairs, as necessary to carry out transports of hand-carried items. Must be able to utilize office equipment. Must be able to read and understand information in printed and electronic format such as that presented in charts, on patient's identification bands, computer screens, phones, communications badges, and other handheld devices as may be employed for use by staff during the performance of duties. Work Conditions: The incumbent works out of a central office with adequate seating for staff, sufficient light for reading, and climate controls to regulate room temperature. The great majority of PES work is performed inside the medical center with some transports of patients and items to/from outside patios, courtyards, and curbsides at the front and rear entrances to the medical center. VA-issued uniforms may be required to be worn when on duty. VA-issued keys and proximity cards are carried on one's person for purposes of gaining access to offices and restricted areas as necessary. The work environment also contains increased risks associated with potentially fatal infections or situations involving difficult or disturbed patients. 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.

Requirements

• 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
• 5 CFR § 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. English Language Proficiency: Individuals serving in direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). The preferred candidate would have experience transporting patients. GS-4 Grade Level: General Experience: Six (6) months of general experience ANDsix (6) months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-3 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. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, GS level (if a federal position), duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. Examples of General Experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Independently performing customer service duties. Examples of 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. Examples would typically include, but are not limited to: dispatching operations, prioritize telephone calls, accurately annotate caller's information or providing indirect or direct patient care. OR; Education (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-4 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed two (2) years above High School education with 12 semester hours related to a study in medical, health, or related fields. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. (To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages). . OR; Combination (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-4 level. You must have a combination of college level education beyond one (1) year with course(s) related to a study in medical, health, or related fields, and General and/or Specialized Experience to meet total experience requirements. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-04. NOTE: If using education combined with General Experience to qualify, a transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-04. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Christian Sheehy
• Phone: 2535831069
• Email: [email protected]