Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical)

Telehealth Services Support

The incumbent supports the day-to-day operation of telehealth services at the assigned location and across remote sites of care. At the GS-05 level, the incumbent performs duties under the guidance and close supervision of more experienced staff. At the GS-06 level, the incumbent serves at the full performance level, carrying out the full range of telehealth responsibilities with minimal direct supervision and providing guidance to less experienced staff as needed. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing the clinical environment, which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment used for clinical examination and treatment.
• Serving as a telepresenter, within scope of practice, during Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (VVC) encounters, including tasks such as establishing and maintaining videoconferencing connections, making introductions between the patient site and provider site, and following clinician instructions to facilitate an effective clinical encounter.
• Serving as an imager and clinical data manager for Store and Forward Telehealth (SFT) clinical encounters, including capturing images, collecting data, and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines.
• 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 who 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 using approved materials.
• Communicating effectively with clinical and administrative staff at the assigned local site and with staff located at remote sites of care.
• Configuring, installing, troubleshooting, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance on assigned telehealth technology.
• Ensuring assigned telehealth technologies are managed appropriately, including inventorying, securing, preparing for use, and accounting for equipment by preparing and tracking maintenance work orders, information systems records, inventory documentation, and communicating with the National Telehealth Technology Help Desk to facilitate troubleshooting, repair, and coordination of replacement equipment as necessary.
• Providing established education and training to Veterans, staff, and providers on the use of telehealth technologies and serving as a point of contact to answer questions and address concerns related to these technologies.
• Maintaining regular contact with other staff members and the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to resolve process issues, equipment needs, problems, data collection, and other logistical matters.
• Arranging and completing test video calls with Veterans to prepare them for clinical encounters using telehealth technologies.
• Ensuring information and resources are maintained for local and remote telehealth providers so they can effectively execute contingency and emergency plans.

Completing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm (Monday - Friday)

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: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 37007F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs