Health Technician

Health Technician

Major Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to: Health Technician Duties - 80% The incumbent will be assigned to Critical Care/Ambulatory Care. Major duties include responsibility for direct patient care. The incumbent will be expected to develop and demonstrate increasing skill in performing the following tasks:

• Assumes responsibility for the immediate maintenance and cleanliness of reusable medical equipment (RME) used in the care of the patient and will be certified on the specific equipment for which they are responsible.
• Serves as a unit resource for equipment when appropriate and has received adequate training to serve as a unit expert (examples: ceiling lifts, beds, golf carts)
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining orderly work areas within the unit without being specifically directed to do so.
• Tracks equipment malfunctions and repair returns, works with Biomedical and Engineering departments to facilitate this.
• Interprets hospital routines and procedures to patients and their visitors.
• Assists the RN in transporting patients to Critical Care area (MSSDU, MICU, SICU, and 4-North ICU) and transports patients requiring Telemetry monitoring with signed competencies.
• Assumes responsibility for restocking patient units and prepares the area to receive admissions.
• Transports specimens to the lab.
• Recognizes emergencies and responds appropriately by seeking and providing assistance as necessary.
• Restocks and checks crash carts and airway boxes.
• Assists the RN in post-mortem care.
• Answers phone calls and intercom, relays messages appropriately.
• HTs assume a collaborative role in mobility of patients by completing rounds on all patients and establishing a mobility plan with the nurse early in their shift. This includes clarification of the patient's orders, expected activity and current ability to mobilize.

Clinical Duties - 20%

• Discontinue peripheral IVs and document condition of site.
• Assembling equipment for line insertion and other typical complex procedures.
• Running 12 lead EKG's.
• Assisting with VAC and other wound dressing changes.
• Assist with minor surgical procedures.
• Perform phlebotomy/specimen collection.
• Insert Foley catheters and external catheters.
• Perform Blood Glucose/ Chem sticks, reports abnormal results accordingly to policy and performs quality control per policy.
• Accurately takes and records vital signs and reports any deviation from normal.
• Application of cast/splint per physician order.
• Specific tasks may vary according to specialized training everyone has received.

Preferred Experience: Emergency Department and Intensive Critical Care (ICU) or pre-hospital paramedic/EMT experience

Work Schedule: Malcom Randall VA Medical Center- 12hr DAY shift and 12hr NIGHT shift, alternating weekends Lake City VA Medical Center- 8hr or 12hr NIGHT Shift, alternating weekends (tours subject to change based on unit needs)

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/ PD01804-A