Health Technician

The Clinic Health Technician is responsible for the clinical and clerical functions of patient care in order to promote timely and efficient patient care. The Health Technician (HT) provides a seamless process for patients and is supervised by the Nurse Manager in the Outpatient Clinic.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Individual Occupational Requirement: An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0640 occupational series. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• 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. OR
• Education and Training: For GS 5- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

In addition to the English Language Proficiency and IOR, applicants must also meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-5 grade level.

GS 5 Minimum Qualifications:

• Specialized Experience: One year ofspecialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4grade 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 but is not limited to: Experienced in phlebotomy and familiar with, and capable of a wide variety of intravenous devices, e.g. syringe technique, use of butterflies and vacutainers. Knowledge of principles of infection control and principles of safety. Recognizes urgent/emergent situations and follows Primary Care communication guidelines and emergency preparedness plan. Manages scheduling, medical data, patient movement and ensures that all medical information from telephone calls is communicated to appropriate team member and entered into the computerized patient record system. Greets patients, checks patients in for appointments and provides needed information to patients, their families and the public. Provides administrative and technical support to the core and expanded teams. Knowledge of patient admission and outpatient processing eligibility and procedures. OR,
• Education (Transcripts Required): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a bachelor's degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. OR,
• Combination (Transcripts Required): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.
  • 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-5.

Preferred Experience: Experience in Patient Aligned Care Team model of care and Cerner Millennium electronic health record.

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/.

Responsibilities:

The incumbent directs patient flow through the clinic, from check in to check out. The purpose of the work is to prepare for and provide patient care, including personal care, diagnostic support activities, treatment procedures, patient documentation, and patient-driven plan for life in order to assure continuity of care and provide customer and patient satisfaction.

• The HT directs patient flow through the clinic, from checking in through checking out. The incumbent actively participates as a member of the healthcare team.
• Performs a range of direct care duties that include but not limited to performing temperature, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation measurements, measuring height and weight, patient transfers, glucometer testing, collecting specimens, and phlebotomy by venipuncture.
• Processes requests following established laboratory procedures and protocols. Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and evaluates laboratory specimens to determine suitability for analysis and ensuring physiological state -of the properties are maintained.
• Prepares and advises patients for collection of timed blood, urine, and stool specimens.
• Prepares specimens to submit to reference laboratories for analysis. Follows-up on delinquent test results via on-site printer, FAX, and reports results.
• Assumes responsibility for checking all instruments and equipment for needed repairs, maintenance and replacement.
• Possesses knowledge of proper handling and pre-cleaning of reusable medical equipment. Assists with minor procedures, including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment, positioning patient, ensuring comfort and privacy. Monitors patient during the procedure.
• Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner, using evidence-based principles.
• Adherence to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions.
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives and strives to elevate the practice standards in the clinic.
• Adjusts own assignment to assist in emergencies or unusual, unplanned situations.
• Demonstrates appropriate behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Maintains a work environment that honors diversity.
• Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information.
• Supports tele-health clinics and processes.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD80157A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Salary : $40,736