The Health Technician (ENT) provides complete care and manages the technical aspects of the ENT clinic. This responsibility requires a thorough knowledge of the procedures required for pressure equalization tubes, biopsy of the skin, neck, oral cavity, esophagus, laryngeal and upper respiratory tract. Incumbent requires a thorough knowledge of the operation of complex equipment and maintaining this equipment in an operational mode.

Duties

The health technician provides complete technical support for pressure equalization tube placement, biopsies, botox vocal cord injections, trans nasal esophagoscopy, rigid nasal endoscopy, sinus debridement, vocal cord injection for medialization of vocal cords, and other procedures as indicated. The technician facilitates fiber optic laryngoscope examination and assists the provider in the management of epistaxis. The technician is primarily responsible for transport of biopsy and culture specimens to the appropriate lab receiving area ("chain of custody"). Incumbent performs routine ear examination and removes cerumen from the ear utilizing instrumentation or irrigation. Once properly instructed on technique, the technician removes sutures and staples at the physician's request. The technician performs complex procedures such as appropriately sizing tracheotomy tubes, suctioning tracheotomy tubes and laryngectomy stomas, or replacing tracheotomy tubes when indicated. The technician applied topical medications to patients in preparation for clinic procedures when directed by practitioners. The technician also provides patient teaching concerning tracheotomy and laryngectomy care. Frequently, these duties are performed without direct supervision or assistance, thus freeing providers to perform other functions in support of maximum throughput. The technician develops guidelines and standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of the Veteran undergoing procedures or surgeries utilizing highly specialized complex equipment. The technician develops and implements a monitoring system to assure all clinic supplies medications and equipment are fully operational and not past expiration date. The technician prepares exam rooms for each individual patient. Incumbent removes instruments and equipment from exam rooms following clinic visits and procedures. The technician is responsible for sanitation of the work area during clinic and procedures. The technician assures ordering, tracking, and maintenance of instruments, supplies, and medications used in the complex procedures and surgeries required for maximally efficient clinic function. The incumbent must have thorough knowledge of aseptic and sterile techniques and must apply these principles throughout examinations, testing, and surgical procedures. The incumbent may operate the STERIS machine for the sterilization of scopes and instruments. The technician must have the foresight, versatility, and ability to anticipate clinic needs and adapt the clinic to support day to day operations, the use of advanced technology, and other duties as necessary. Understands and assures proper positioning of the patients for each procedure. Explains procedures, positions patients for desired results, and cushions and shields patients as appropriate. Provides pre- and post-procedure teaching to patients for office procedures, freeing providers to provide increased care. Work Schedule: 8am-4:45pm, Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (ENT)/PD012350 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/05/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Candidates must meet the following Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):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. In addition to the IOR above, applicants may qualify based on the following experience: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: practical knowledge of standard procedures and practices of an Ear, Nose and Throat clinic is required, thorough knowledge of the procedures required for biopsy of the skin, neck, oral cavity, esophagus, laryngeal, and upper respiratory tract. Skill in the operation and use of specialized equipment, instruments and materials in an ENT clinic is required, must possess knowledge of patient placement for treatment or procedure, knowledge and ability to apply drugs, instruments, and supplies to be available for the physician for various treatments and procedures, must have knowledge regarding administering routine ear examination and removing cerumen from the ear utilizing instrumentation or irrigation, knowledgeable in the removal of sutures and staples, knowledge and ability to apply knowledge of medication, equipment and supplies used in the clinics so as to communicate with both the medical staff and the patients, must have thorough knowledge of aseptic and sterile techniques and must apply these principles throughout examinations, test, and surgical procedures. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Team Work 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 position will require moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), pulling hand over hand (0.50 hours), pushing (1.0 hours), use of fingers, walking (1.0 hours), standing (1.0 hours), kneeling (1.0 hours), and repeated bending (1.0 hours). 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]