Health Technician

Duties

Some Duties include:

• Use of word processing software to produce a variety of documents such as encounter forms, treatment plans, specialty procedures (such as EKGs); uses database software to enter, revise, sort and retrieve data for reports or review; transmits and received documents and messages electronically using a personal computer workstation networked or linked to other clinic computers or workstations and to Martinsburg and other VA facilities through a central processing unit.
• Possess knowledge of multiple programs in VISTA and understand that interaction of various programs to determine impact on patients and other services.
• Utilizes Medicine Package daily for entry, edit and display of data from a large number of medical tests and procedures. Medicine tests are organized to help physicians manage patient data and furnish reports on a timely basis. It is an important part of capturing the workload which Is utilized at the VISN level. All information (procedure, interpretation, diagnosis, clinical data) must be entered daily to ensure proper funding to the VAMC. The release control option and electronic signature are used to release reports to the providers under the Summary of Patient Procedures option. The following modules must be utilized: Cardiology, (EKG, Echocardiogram, Holter Monitor, Exercise Tolerance Test), Gastrointestinal (GI), Pulmonary.
• Utilizes Mailman Menu for communication purposes between services in treatment of patients and administrative and official business between and within the clinic and other VA facilities. Messages are read promptly and forwarded to others as appropriate. Due dates are given as required with "suspense files" organized for the message to reappear on the selected dates to follow-up on action/completion.
• Maintains courtesy and professionalism when dealing with peers and/or upper management, veterans, and patient family members. Exhibits professional conduct when greeting or interacting with veterans, staff members, and the general public. Adheres to the rules and regulations of the service to ensure daily smooth operations.
• Demonstrates consistency in providing accurate information to internal and external customers.
• Assists in orientation of physicians and other clinic personnel including proper procedures for requesting medical tests and the requirement for completion of exams. Serves as a source of information concerning VA regulations, policies and procedures such as eligibility, co-payments, beneficiary travel, etc.
• In accordance with VHA Directive 1230, employee uses the appointment management option to access appointment information for scheduling of outpatient services. This includes clinic visits, consultations, Primary Care Management Module (PCMM) Primary Care Team and/or provider assignments, and entries into the Electronic Wait List (EWL). Competency skill checklist is required after successful completion of VISTA scheduling class.
• Maintains provider schedules and enters orders accurately per text order and verifies in CPRS that orders are completed.
• Responsible for scheduling appointments of patients, adhering to the scheduling directive, placing appropriate notes in CPRS, and notifying the appropriate PACT Team members in a timely manner.
• Places patients on the EWL and the Veterans Choice list (VCL) per the scheduling directive.
• Accurately updates all patient demographics and obtains Release of information when necessary.
• Responsible for authenticating patients in MyHealthy VET for Secure Messaging.
• Maintains and runs open encounter report and notifies provider of any open encounters. Notifies supervisor of any encounters that remain open daily.
• Tracks consult and schedules patients appropriately adhering to the scheduling directive.
• Utilizes the VHIC and Toolkit to process VA patient ID cards.
• Utilizes VISTA/Dashboard to process travel claims.
• Runs Recall Delinquency reports to verify all patients are scheduled in a timely manner.
• Assist patients with Truth Point surveys.
• Responsible for accurately scanning patient information into CPRS.
• Independently initiates action for the solution of day-to-day administrative problems.
• Assists and updates office documents, standard operating procedures and related materials.
• Establishes, maintains and revises the office filing system.
• Maintains and orders medical and admin supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full Time. Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/ 7669-A
Physical Requirements: Incumbent must be able to assist patients who need help with standing, walking and sitting if needed. Incumbent must be able to stand and walk for long periods of time while working in the lab environment. Incumbent must be able to sit for long periods of time while on the ACD system. The physical demands require repetition of sitting, standing, twisting, bending, stretching, walking, and lifting.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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 (0640) Series (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. 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. Please clearly state your experience in resume.

In addition to the IOR, applicants must meet the specialized experience below: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 (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.

Specialized experience includes:

Extensive experience providing all facets of activities in a health care environment. Work involved communicating with patients, family members, professional hospital and/or clinical staff. Demonstrates the ability to express thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Demonstrates experience training individuals on technical medical procedures, as well as administrative operations. Demonstrates experience using tact and diplomacy in problem resolution and dealing with difficult patients and/or co-workers. This experience may have been gained while working in a complex medical center or hospital facility.

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have six months of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the (1) 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. (Transcripts are required to substitute education for experience).

OR

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond six months of graduate level 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-XX. 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.

Additional information

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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/ .

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .