Health Technician

Summary

This Health Technician serves as a Health Technician located in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Care Line Imaging Service at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas. The Health Technician performs a variety of patient care and administrative tasks in a multi-faceted capacity to support Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Technologists (ADRTs).

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Duties

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Duties:

• Assist with patient transfer for procedures and or exams, using patient lift or sliding board when needed.
• Assist the registered nurse/CT technolgist with IV insertion and removals
• Assist with CT procedures by choosing the correct table accessories (head vs body) to coincide with the examination being performed, positioning the patient on the table, assist with contrast and saline prepartion, help patients on and off table. Prepares patients for imaging procedures, including providing gown and instruction. Places EKG leads on patients that require cardiac gating
• Receives request for procedures, interprets the request, and verifies exam-related documents for accuracy. Obtains a protocol for imaging order from radiologist.
• Confirms patient identity using two identifiers (patient name and SSN or DOB). Identifies non-verbal patients by wristband and by verification from a family member, caregiver or healthcare provider.
• Observes patients during & between exams, addressing any discomfort and monitor potential issues.
• Transports patients to and from radiology, nursing units, the emergency room, and other areas within the department using appropriate transport methods (DTCL, lobby, etc.).
• Recognizes emergency situations and responds appropriately by acting, activating code blue, calling a registered nurse/physican, and initiation emergency measures, including CPR.
• Prepares and restocks exam rooms before and after each patient, ensuring a clean and sanitary clinical environment.
• Provides answers to diagnostic imaging service questions. Educates competent patients, caregivers, or family members about exams and potential hazards associated with them, explaining in clear, understandable terms.
• Coordinates with staff to effectively schedule and manage patient exams and appointments.
• Administers oral contrast agents and provides verbal instructions to patients.
• Adheres to hospital infection control policies with emphasis on proper hand-washing and universal precaustins.

Work Schedule: Sunday- Thursday, 11:30pm-7:30am; subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/ PD04158-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands are usually moderate: Lifting objects up to 40 pounds, moving specialized equipment and assisting patients from a stretcher, hospital bed or wheelchair to a procedure or scan table. Occasionally, the technician assists with the moving of heavy equipment or large patients, but this is done with the assistance of others to minimize the danger to the individual. The incumbent must also work at a computer desk at times.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/13/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience GS-06 - 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: experience communicating with both internal and external customers; and experience in customer service. This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

Customer Service

Organizational Performance and High Reliability Practices

Education

Screening of Patients

Basic Computer Skills

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

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 qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.