What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
Basic Requirements:
- RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.** The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) serves in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth operations and is typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site - with duties that may require travel. Primary responsibilities include: supporting clinical telehealth encounters - functioning as an imager and clinical data manager - managing real time clinical telehealth events.
Basic Requirements:
- 1
- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
- 2
- English Proficiency: A candidate will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
- 3
- Experience and Education: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: 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: 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 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
- Grandfathering Provision: 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)
- 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: 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
- 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
- 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 Grade Determinations: Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) - GS-6 (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
- Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks
- Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the healthcare team - external relations - customer service and patient education
- Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction
- Ability to plan - organize - set priorities - work as a team member - and effectively complete assignments
- Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
- Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment
- Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters
- Preferred Experience: Technical Competence: Proficient with telehealth platforms - peripherals - and clinical technology
- able to troubleshoot basic issues
- Accurate in collecting - uploading - and documenting biometric and clinical data
- Clinical Support: Understands clinical terminology and workflows
- consistently follows protocols and SOPs
- Communication & Customer Service: Provides clear - compassionate guidance to Veterans - including those unfamiliar with technology
- Communicates professionally with interdisciplinary teams and delivers effective instructions and reassurance during virtual visits
- Attention to Detail: Maintains precise documentation and strong situational awareness in telehealth settings
- Ensures equipment readiness - performs quality checks - and supports safe telehealth operations
- Adaptability & Problem-Solving: Adjusts quickly to changing workflows - technology - and clinical environments
- Proactively identifies issues and escalates when needed
- Veteran-Centered Care: Demonstrates commitment to VHA's lCARE values (Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - Excellence)
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. 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.
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: Preparing the clinical environment - which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment
- Serving as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (WC) encounters including tasks such as establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections - making introductions between patient site and provider site - following instructions of a clinician to facilitate an effective clinical encounter
- Serving as an imager and clinical data manager for store and forward telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters including tasks such as capturing images - collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines
- Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management - cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following all patient safety guidelines - protocols - and procedures
- Completing standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within scope of training and applicable guidelines
- Ensuring that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations
- Receiving and scheduling requests for simple and complex intra-facility - and inter-facility telehealth appointments using an electronic resource-based scheduling system
- Screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care
- Monitoring and maintaining schedules of rooms - patients - technologies - clinical providers and presenters as needed to ensure efficient telehealth operations
- Providing patient education via approved materials
- Supporting the Veteran in completing patient satisfaction surveys
- Work Schedule: Full-Time
- Monday to Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
- Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
- 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 [work experience] or 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: Available
- Ad-Hoc may be authorized at Supervisory discretion
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 09748-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $47,406 - $61,628