Health Technician (EMT)

Summary This position is located in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in the Facilities Management Service (FMS) Line. The primary purpose of the position is to respond to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, sometimes encountering situations which may be life threatening. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Respond to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, sometimes encountering situations which may be life threatening. Makes independent preliminary assessment of the patient's conditions and selects from a variety of prescribed protocols using the one that is considered appropriate under the given circumstanes. Provide treatment as prescribed in the protocol. Make modification to the protocol, if necessary, within prescribed limits. Conducts a complete examination of the patient's conditions to determine the nature, extent, and seriousness and searches for medical alert symbols. Determines, with due regard to the patient's condition, if and how the patient can be moved and to which medical facility the patient should be transported. Prioritizes treatment for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of established emergency medicine techniques, methods and equipment during transport to the appropriate medical facility. Determines/prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance. Perform Triage, take and records patient's vital signs as needed. Perform physical examinations and obtain patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciouness. Administers basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards which may include providing CPR, and/or drug treatments. Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of patient. Takes appropriate measures to prevent disease transmission or exposure to bodily fluids. Will also assist in transporting non-ambulatory and ambulatory patients as directed. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Rotating 12 hour shifts. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician (EMT)/PD210210 Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: Basic Requirement/Minimum Qualification for GS-7: 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 GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 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: 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 requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes applying skill of body systems (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory) to conduct patient assessments and provide emergency patient medical care; operating emergency vehicles and a variety of emergency/medical equipment, tools, supplies; and using communication techniques and equipment to relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): I have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): I have equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience, described above, to meet total qualification requirements. Drivers License Requirement: Current Certification as an Emergency Vehicle Operator. (EVOC course or equivalent). Selective Placement Factor: Current Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. Valid state drivers license with the ability to drive in all states. Valid state certification and/or National registry as and EMT-B. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. 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.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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. "Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care." 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.