Health Technician

Summary The Health Technician works as a member of the Primary Care Service (PACT), under the guidance of the PACT/CBOC Clinical Nurse Manager. PACT provides comprehensive outpatient services to eligible veterans who present or are referred for preventative/routine care & urgent medical conditions. The Health Technician assists medical and nursing staff through technical, specialized or support services for the diagnosing or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions. Responsibilities The Health Technician duties include: Skill and precision in using phlebotomy needles, tools, materials and equipment is required to perform major duties of the position. Performs a wide range of diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording, and reporting vital sign deviations to provider obtaining specimens and labeling specimens for the laboratory. Makes gross visual observations and identifies subtle changes regarding the patient's condition, documents observations and communicates to practitioners. Performs a variety of specialized tests and procedures such as monofilament testing, and doppler exam of the extremity artery. Gather's diagnostic information using specialized equipment such as (but not limited to) pulse oximetry, bladder scanner, and ECG machine. Monitors patient for adverse reactions, recognizes abnormalities and brings them to the attention of the appropriate medical health care professionals. Independently performs direct patient care activities including intake, obtaining vital signs, ECGs, clinical reminders, and medication reconciliation. Identifies and reports data relative to more complex, non-routine patient situations including subtle changes in patient's behavior or condition or variations related to neurological signs, vital signs, or other parameters. Assist medical personnel in emergent situations as well as performing occasional minor to moderate de-escalation of agitated Veterans. Responds to medical urgencies/emergencies, initiates BLS and activates emergency medical system. Performs patient care procedures such as collection of specimens, applying dressings, adjusting simple supportive equipment. Performs direct patient support work to include collecting information from patients, providing personal patient care, and educating patients on pre-testing and post procedure activities. Performs test on patients such as Snellen and Ishihara's Color Deficiency. Takes tissue cultures or specimen samples. Fits patients for medical devices such as compression hose, blood pressure machines and braces/splints. Obtains release forms, assists patients' visitors and others requesting information guidance or referral for special assistance. Orders and maintains supplies for the clinic. Orders and maintains specialized supplies pertaining to instruments used for procedures in the clinic. Performs administrative tasks such as maintaining control records for specimens and tests and documenting measurements taken. Test patients, takes measurements, collects, and organizes data from follow up visits, reports result to provider. Performs patient check in, including obtaining and recording demographic data, vital signs, height, weight, chief complaint, brief history, current medications, and measurements for specific age groups. Prepares patient and treatment area and assists health care professionals with minor surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic clinic procedures. Performs pre-procedure set-up, and dispositions Non-RME per facility standard operating procedures. Monitors patient during and after procedures and reports observations to nurse and provider. Documents workload and billable care data (encounter) into EMR. Maintains examination rooms with medical equipment by ordering and replenishing supplies, and cleaning and organizing between patients Answers telephone inquiries regarding services available and eligibility to provider accurate information and maintains good public relations. Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD93072-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. This occupation is currently approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive through [insert date]. Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI for a pro-rated amount if onboard prior to the CSI expiration date. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Requirements 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: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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, 07/29/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupation Requirement: 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. English Language Proficiency Requirement: 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 perform the duties of this position. AND, In addition to the above requirements, in order to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following minimum qualifications: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Skill and precision in using phlebotomy needles, tools, materials, and equipment; Performing diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording, and reporting vital sign deviations to provider; Obtaining specimens and labeling specimens for the laboratory; making gross visual observations and identifying subtle changes regarding patient's condition, documenting observations and communicating to practitioners; Using hot and cold packs, changing sterile dressings, caring for patients and giving treatments that require auxiliary equipment; Performing a variety of specialized tests and procedures such as monofilament testing, and doppler exam of the extremity artery, Gathering diagnostic information using specialized equipment such as pulse oximetry, bladder scanner and ECG Machine. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: 6 months of graduate education (usually 9 semester hours) that is directly related to the work of this position. One full year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts required. OR, Combination: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. Preferred Experience: One (1) Year of Nursing Home Experience. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires an ongoing mix of potentially long-periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and reaching overhead. All patient care activities require PC keyboard and mouse use for data entry in the electronic patient record. occasional heavy lifting will be required. Particularly for patient transfers. Incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative, invasive procedures. Incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative, In some instances interaction with patients, caregivers and staff can become intense, and the employee may be placed in a position of stress. Incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: 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. 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 VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.