The Columbia VAMC Nursing Department is hiring Health Technicians! Health Technicians serve in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth operations and are typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site (VA Medical Center, CBOCs and VA Outreach Clinics) with duties that may require travel.

Duties

The incumbent performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of telehealth services within assigned locations. The incumbent may receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Preparation of the clinical environment, which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment. Serves as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (VVC) encounters to include tasks such as establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections, making introductions between patient site and provider site, as well as following instructions of other clinicians to facilitate an effective clinical encounter. Serves as an imager and clinical data manager for store and forward telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters tasks may include capturing images, collecting data, and transmitting electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines. Takes measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management, cleaning of clinical equipment while following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures. Completes standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within scope of training and applicable guidelines. Supports the Veteran in completing patient satisfaction surveys. Communicates effectively with clinical and administrative staff . Maintains regular contact with other staff members and the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues, equipment needs, problems, data collection and any other logistical issues. Arranges and completes test video calls with Veterans to prepare the Veteran for clinical encounters using telehealth technologies. Ensures information and resources are maintained for local and remote telehealth providers so they can effectively execute contingency and emergency plans. Completes other assigned duties. Work Schedule: 0800-1630 | Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 544-02034A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below:(a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or(b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. Certification. None Grandfathering Provision. All Health Technicians (Telehealth Clinical) employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical), GS-6 (Full Performance Level) (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. (a) Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks. (b) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. (c) Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction. (d) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments. (e) Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. (f) Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment. (g) Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters. Preferred Experience: Technical skills and Certification of Medical Assistance References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/96 PART II APPENDIX G50 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript (displaying a conferred date) 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Greta Kirby
• Email: [email protected]