Summary

The position is at full performance level located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - with the Northern Arizona Health Care System (NAVAHCS) - Primary Care Service Line at the Kingman Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)/ Rural Clinic. The Health Technician is responsible for providing clinical and clerical services - to include lab draws - and performs phlebotomy collection with proper shipping - patients and family education - assist providers - and clerical support.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 02/27/2025. 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-05 position you must have held a GS-03 or GS-04 position in the preceding 52 weeks. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Knowledge of VA/VHA policies and procedures; eligibility for medical care; priorities of care; release of information; and Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) laws; Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking specimens - labeling specimens for the laboratory - etc.; knowledge of multiple systems - current computer technology and applications; knowledge of the organization to search records - files or electronic data banks to locate information needed - and to verify information given; knowledge of processes such as recording - reviewing - compiling - and interpreting medical data and information incidental to a variety of patient care and treatment activities; Performs using good customer service skills when interacting with veterans and with coworkers; Processing incoming and outgoing materials such as correspondence - reports - memoranda - and other forms of written communication; knowledge of collecting data for administrative processing of medical examinations - making referrals - scheduling - coordinating - and monitoring return appointments for outpatient treatment work-up in compliance with VHA scheduling directives and HIPPA regulations. OR - Education: 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. 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. Transcripts required. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. For GS-5 level - only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. - beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. Experience must be clearly demonstrated in your resume. Transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Clerical Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Diagnostic Medical Testing Patient Care 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 work is mostly sedentary and is performed in a clinic responsible for treating patients with a wide variety of medical problems. Normal safety precautions and practices are required for working in a health care environment. This position requires the emotional ability to deal effectively with multi-tasking - and high-volume patient flow. Other physical demands include reaching - bending - stretching - walking - and carrying light loads of supplies. 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/.

Duties

• The position is at the full performance level located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - at the Northern Arizona Health Care System (NAVAHCS) for Primary Care Service Line
• The primary duties of the position include but are not limited to: Determines technical factors - sets control and operates equipment and instruments
• Sets technical factors - adjusting for patient anomalies
• Sets operational parameters for equipment with few operating functions
• Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking specimens - labeling specimens for the laboratory - etc
• Obtains venous blood samples from patients - using proper techniques - identification of patient - use of safety needles - etc
• Prepares - packages - and ships specimens to Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) adhering to regulations of the transport of biohazardous specimens
• Performs standard diagnostic tests or procedures such as electrocardiograms - accuchecks for glucose determinations - and simple wound care treatments and dressing changes - according to written protocol or as directed by the providers or other clinical staff
• Generates encounter forms for patient's appointment
• Uses Vista and CPRS to document in the patient's medical records
• Files individual documents or information in records
• Documents pertinent information including current health status and subtle changes in the patient's status
• Gathers data and prepares reports
• Performs administrative tasks such as maintaining control records for specimens and tests and documenting measurements taken
• Obtains and provides basic medical information for patient and caregivers
• Interviews the patient to document the nature of the complaint and its current state - past history or family history - current medication and other similar matters
• Verifies laboratory orders - clarifies unusual requests with initiating provider
• Provides basic patient education on pre-testing and post-procedure patient activities
• Performs direct patient support work including personal patient care
• Identifies and reports data relative to more complex - non-routine patient situations including subtle changes in patient's behavior or condition or variances related to neurological signs - vital signs or other parameters and communicating them to the RN/provider
• Teaches patients and family members the necessity of continuing proper health care
• Provides specific health information based on the patient's condition
• Provides patient education based on the needs of the patient and family - including tests - procedures - and the disease process
• Provides preventive health education and screening to patients
• Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the clinic
• Obtains key information needed to walk-in and initiate medical administrative processing of requests and forms
• Orients providers and personnel to the clinical area including the proper procedures for requesting medical tests and the requirement for completion of exams
• Schedules appointments tests and coordinates all activities and appointments for the clinical area - avoiding conflicts in patient treatment plans
• Answers telephone inquiries and regarding services available and procedures for admission to provide accurate information and maintain good public relations
• Performs good customer service skills when interacting with veterans and with coworkers
• Receives and directs patients - answer routine inquiries and makes referrals
• Assists patients in contacting volunteer or social services as needed
• Receives and responds to unclear inquiries from patients concerning a variety of medical - personnel - and administrative matters
• Obtains release forms
• Assists patients - visitors - and others requesting information - guidance or referral for special assistance
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30 am to 11:30 am
• Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service - increase worker productivity - and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies
• This position may be authorized for telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD12581A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized