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This position is located in the Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. The incumbent will function in the role of a Health Technician within the Primary Care Division. The general duties of the Health Technician range from front to back office duties, primarily direct patient care activities but can include a range of clerical, technical, administrative and general clinic support functions. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet specialized experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 05/12/2023. 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. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. 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-4) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing both clerical and clinical duties in a medical/healthcare environment; answering and directing phone calls; scheduling appointments; documenting medical records; and taking and recording vital signs. NOTE: 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. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 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. NOTE: Transcripts required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and post-high school education as described above that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. For the GS-05, only education in excess of 60 semester hours (2 years) is creditable. NOTE: Transcripts required. 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. ["Major duties include but is not limited to: Assists medical and nursing providers when performing medical & diagnostic examinations by assisting with duties such as monitoring vital signs, collecting biometrics, preparing and positioning the patient, completing the history and reminders, or by performing a variety of routine diagnostic tests Takes and records measurements and vital signs; reports deviations in vital signs and/or weight; measures and records height Draws, labels and packages specimens for the laboratory Transports specimens to the laboratory and calls the laboratory for reports Performs routine diagnostic tests such as venipuncture, bladder scan, ultrasound glucometer, pregnancy testing, urinary tract infection testing and electrocardiograms Positions patient according to specific instructions from surgeon or primary care physician, drapes patient, preps and adjusts specialized equipment with multiple features, and passes instruments Answers patient's questions during procedures Chaperone and comfort patients receiving gender specific examinations, including those that received Military Sexual Trauma Possesses knowledge of surgical instruments in this clinical setting such as dilators, tenaculums, kevorkians, loops and balls, forceps and assists doctors with size selections Performs patient care procedures such as collection of specimens, applying dressings, adjusting simple supportive equipment Performs simple procedures such as collection of blood samples or other fluid samples from ambulatory patients and application of sterile dressings to uncomplicated wounds Takes care of patients' routine care and comfort needs including personal hygiene, physical comfort, well-being, positioning, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, safety and falls prevention, etc. Assists providers and nurses in the care and treatment of the ill receiving medical, surgical, psychiatric or outpatient treatment Observes and reports to the health professional changes in patient behavior, attitude, bodily complaints, and appearance Performs medication and refrigeration temperature checks Enters specific information into the patients' record Enters patient information using commonly used medical terminology such as terms of tests, diet changes, or test results Performs patient charting using standard medical terminology for the human body, physical and emotional reactions, nursing care, and contraindications to medications, etc. Completes all reminders Participates in medication reconciliation Teaches patients and family members the necessity to continue good health maintenance, personal hygiene & self-care behaviors Assists with general health education and classes as assigned Teaches patients and family members the necessity of personal hygiene and continuing proper self-care behaviors Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the clinic Gathers and complies statistics for necessary reports such as clinic availability, clinic capacity, supply and demand Receives and directs patients, answers routing inquiries and makes referrals Instructs patient on standard procedures required prior to visits and obtains medical release forms Interviews new patients to the clinic to obtain identifying information Preferred Experience: Clinical experience in a specialty environment, including chaperoning and assisting with gynecological and urological ambulatory procedures. Knowledge of proper procedure preparation, sterile techniques, maintenance of surgical instruments or other reusable medical equipment, and handling of lab specimens. Excellent customer service skills, maintains positive relationships with patients and co-workers. Efficient with patient rooming: checking vital signs/biometrics, medication reconciliation, and completing clinical reminders. Good venipuncture and catheterization skills. Familiar with CPRS. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Varying tours from 7:00am to 5:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD20668A Physical Requirements: The work requires standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients."]

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