This position is located in the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado. The primary purpose of this position is to support clinical day-to-day operations related to technical health care procedures under the supervision of the SCI Rehabilitation Therapists, Registered Nurses, and/or Clinicians as required.

Duties

This is an open-continuous announcement. The announcement will remain open until there is no longer a need. There will be multiple cut-off dates used to consider applications for referral to the selecting official. The Health Technician (SCI/D) performs the following major duties: Treats, instructs or works with patients in carrying out therapeutic activities prescribed for their physical or mental rehabilitation. Assists in performing therapy functions performed by professional therapists, e.g., planning therapy treatment for patients who are not critically or acutely ill. Assists patients that are referred for treatment on the basis of a medical prescription. The prescription usually includes the treatment objective, diagnosis, length of treatment and necessary precautions to be observed during the therapy sessions. In some situations, the patient is referred to the therapist without a specific prescription for treatment. Works with patients on an individual basis, in small groups, or in large groups, depending on the patient's physical and mental status and individual needs for treatment. Provides nursing care to patients. Assist doctors and nurses in the care and treatment of patients receiving medical, surgical, psychiatric, or outpatient treatment. Provides personal care to patients, on a regular, continuing basis; serves as a member of the treatment team in motivating patients and redirecting their behavior toward treatment plan goals. Observes, assists and completes bowel and bladder care programs for admitted patients. Set up equipment for monitoring, interpreting and recording cardiac telemetry. Performs 12-Lead ECG as ordered by clinician providing results to clinician and ensures results are downloaded to electronic health record. Performs venous blood draws and blood cultures appropriately, while adhering to infection control practices. Performs specimen collection, preparation and transfer to the lab for processing of blood, tissue, urine, stool and sputum as a routine part of his/her practice. Participates in the admission of patients by collecting patient information, orienting patients to the unit, and assisting Nurses in formulating nursing actions. Takes vital signs and supports Physicians in diagnostic tests such as biopsies and lumbar punctures. Work Schedule: Monday - Sunday, including Holidays and Weekends / Shifts vary based off service needs. Day shift: 0700-1930 or Night shift: 1900-0730. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)/PD11843A Physical Requirements: Work requires regular and recurring periods of standing and walking throughout the ward. The employee defends self and others from the physical attack of patients. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. It may involve walking, frequent bending, reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment; lifting and positioning patients; and carrying, pushing, or pulling moderately heavy objects. Duties may require above average dexterity.

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640): 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. In addition to the IOR, candidates must also meet one of the following requirements: Specialized Experience required for the GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities 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. Specialized experience includes: performing patient screening; observing and communicating with patients and visitors; performing specimen collection; assisting with patient exams; performing vital signs and wound care. OR, Substitution of Education experience required for the GS-06 level: 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 year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination of Education and Specialized Experience to qualify at the GS-06 level: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education. PLEASE 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. (RESUME AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: 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.

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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Erin Brooks
• Phone: 720-723-4803
• Email: [email protected]