The Primary Purpose of the Position is to provide direct assistant to the radiologic staff to enhance the care of the patient who is undergoing an x-ray procedure. The position is designed to maximize the use of technical skills of radiologic technologists. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Major Duties as Assigned, but not limited to: The Health Technician is a multi-functional position that provides direct patient care during the exam process and is instrumental in assisting staff radiologists, diagnostic radiology technologists and medical instrument technologists in the performance of their duties. The Health Technician also provides direct patient care by monitoring the health of the patient during their stay in Imaging Service and managing inpatient processed and prepared for exams. The incumbent must have the knowledge and skill sufficient to observe and report on any reactions on the part of patients to medication or breathing machines. The incumbent ensures coordination with escort to return patient to their designated area. The employee is responsible for assisting the radiologist and technologists in performing complex imaging exams, especially during biopsy procedures and all invasive procedures. The position is designed to enhance the ability of the physician to carry out the procedure without using additional physicians or staff nurse. The incumbent must have skill and knowledge in passing/retrieving medical instruments and materials to the radiologist while performing diagnostic exams. May be required to assemble or help assemble equipment to be used during various imaging procedures using sterile technique when necessary. Employee will work with all modalities: mammography, CT, MRI, Diagnostic Ultrasound, special procedures and general radiology sections. Must be multi-faceted in knowledge and procedures of each modality to ensure appropriate level of care is administered. Employee will work in multiple locations throughout Imaging Service. The incumbent must be knowledgeable in equipment terminology, contrast (drug) terminology and supply terminology. The employee is responsible for escorting patients throughout the Imaging Service and transporting patients to and from wards when necessary. Escorts patients from the Imaging Service waiting room to a dressing area and, if necessary, helps patients get appropriately dressed for their procedure. Assists patients in getting on and off examination tables if required. If necessary, assists patients to a bathroom following their examination. Helps clean patients in the event of spills and assists patients with changing gowns. Assists the X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, or MRI technologists in cleaning and disinfecting x-ray tables and other equipment after patient use. Assists in monitoring wheelchair and litter bound patients and helps ensure these patient's needs are met while in the Imaging Service. The incumbent informs patients of pre-examination procedures and/or requirements such as NPO, latest period timeframe to take medications or to commence medication(s), proper bowel preparation as ordered, take detailed and complete physical and medical histories on patients as directed. Sets up patients for treatment or tests that may include, but limited to, bloodwork or starting IV. Directs or assists patients to imaging exam room, monitors patients when technologist leaves the exam room. For safe practices, Health Technicians, while working in the MRI section, will always be present due to the magnetic field in the MRI suite. The employee will complete their yearly training requirement on Level 1 MRI Safety Training. They must be ready at all times to prevent an untoward event while the patient is in the scanning room. The incumbent performs a variety of clerical and administrative activities including, but not limited to, picking up supplies as needed, retrieval of mammography film jackets from and filing of film jackets to the department film library, preparing appointment/ exam instruction letters for mailing, faxing release of information forms to other medical facilities, filing paper reports in proper film jackets, recognizing and giving priority handling to all emergency patient needs, separating and packaging x-ray films to be sent to the Federal Records Center, if necessary, and rotating current and previous years film files. May be required to receive and register patients. Employee may be required to digitize hard copy films into the CTVHCS Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS). Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 3:30 pm- 12:00 am (midnight), evening shift MRI. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Radiology)/PD #674-4230-A Physical Requirements: The work is may be sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: 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. OR Education and Training: For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Positions at GS-4 and above require specialized experience, education, or training related to the occupation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience are provided for those occupations where such information is currently available. Examples of qualifying post-high school education or training are also provided. Experience. Have at least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience at the GS-3 grade or equivalent level that gave me the knowledge, skills, abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. General Experience: (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. Specialized Experience: 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. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Education: 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted, and education must be from an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Experience and Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The combinations described below are those most typical for these positions, i.e., for grades GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (When crediting education, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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. The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

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/.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application

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 Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]