Health Technician (TELEHEALTH CLINICAL) - Philadelphia, PA - Overview Summary This position is located in the Medicine Service at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) serves in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth operations, performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of telehealth services at the assigned location as well as between the assigned location and remote sites of care. The incumbent may receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to the following: Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (8:00 am - 4:30 pm) Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties - Preparing the clinical environment, which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment; - Serving as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth and VA Video Connect encounters including establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections, making introductions between patient site and provider site; - Serving as an imager and clinical data manager for store and forward telehealth clinical encounters including capturing images, collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines; - Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management, cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures; - 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 that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care; - Providing patient education via approved materials; - Configuring, installing, troubleshooting, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology; - 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; - Arranging and completing test video calls with Veterans to prepare the Veterans 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 - $36,063 $52,252 Job Details Application Open Date 4/21/2018 Application Close Date 5/11/2018 Organization Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Who May Apply None Status None - More About VA - This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. - Qualifications - Basic Requirements: - United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. - Experience and/or Education. (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician; OR (2) Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation; OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; OR (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. - English Language Proficiency: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. - Certification: None - Grandfathering Provision: refer to VA Handbook 5005/96 Part II, Appendix G50 - Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, the following criteria must be met. GS-05: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-06: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 level, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. - Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks. - Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. - Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction. - Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments. - Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions. - Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment. - Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters. - References: VA Handbook 5005/96 Part II, Appendix G50, Qualification Standards for Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical), GS-640. - Full performance level: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-5 OR GS-6. - Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.