Summary

The full performance - Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) Generalist is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs - Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This position serves as an advance technician for outpatient care settings such as; primary care - mental health - and specialty clinics. As an ICT Generalist the incumbent may serve in a medical center - community-based outpatient clinic (cboc) - mobile medical unit or may have virtual/remote assignments.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of closing date of this announcement. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: 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 meet the requirements of this position. In addition to meeting the English language proficiency - the below specialized experience and/or education must be met in order to qualify for this position. Basic Requirement: Per the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - there is an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement - applicants must also meet the grade specific requirements listed below: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience for GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: knowledge of the major body systems - knowledge of topographic anatomy - knowledge of diagnostic signs - skill in communication techniques and the operation of communications equipment to be able to accurately obtain and relay information to and from health care providers - knowledge of equipment and supplies - knowledge of the components of suicide risk assessment - warning signs - environmental safety and referral. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment their resume. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position such as phlebotomy - nursing - or other related subjects. This education was obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college or university. NOTE: Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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-07. 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. Preferred Qualification: Experience in the military as a Hospital Corpsman - Combat Medic - Medical Technician is highly desired. Preferred Experience Former military corpsmen and medic experience Medical Assistant Training/Certification 1-2 years Ambulatory Care or ER Experience 1-2 years Med-Surg Experience Examples of military occupational specialties highly desired - include but are not limited to: 4NOX- Basic Medical Technician - 4NOIC- Independent Duty Medical Technician - X4NO- Aeromedical Evacuation Technician - 1T2X1- Pararescueman - 68W- Combat Medic Specialist - 18D- Army Special Forces (Medic) - 68WW1- Special Operations Flight Medic - HM0000- Basic Hospital Corpsman - HM8404- Field Medical Service Technician - HM8425- Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8402- Submarine Force Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8401- Search and Rescue Medical Technician - HM8403- Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8406- Aerospace Medical Technician - and HS- Basic Health Services Technician. Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of bending - standing and walking. Generally - the work requires recurring physical exertion with assisting patients. Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis - employee is exposed to infection - exposure to communicable diseases and contagious diseases. The incumbent's assignment requires him/her to comply with special safety and health precautions by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) according to universal precautions. 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Patient Screening: Duties include performing observation-based screening and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel
• This may involve completing clinical reminders - obtaining patient health history - chief complaints - medication history - and identification of health-related conditions that may impact the patient's health status
• The incumbent will complete approved templates and tools - such as the outpatient intake form - normal result notes - and follow up treatment protocols established by the agency
• Mental Health Services: The incumbent assists in behavioral/psychiatric situations in an outpatient setting
• This can include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention - management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients - by providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB)
• The incumbent performs duties focused on communication techniques required to complete the questioners and templates approved for use in any outpatient clinical setting - including active listening - restating - and mirroring
• The incumbent will maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for the patient while promoting a sense of worth and dignity under the supervision of the licensed personnel
• Clinical Tasks: The incumbent assists outpatient licensed staff with the delivery of care to patients with complex - specialized - and potentially life-threatening situations
• The incumbent assists licensed staff with preparing patients for medical evaluation - setting up equipment - passing instruments and providing treatment during in person or virtual visits
• The incumbent operates specialized medical equipment to obtain diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes
• The incumbent is responsible for collecting a wide range of specimens and preparing them for transfer to processing
• Observes patient status and keeps licensed clinical staff informed of any change in condition
• The incumbent must possess the knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols
• The incumbent initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS) and use of automatic external defibrillator (AED) once certified and where appropriate according to American Heart Association (AHA) protocols and policies
• Clinical responsibilities include but are not limited to: Vital signs
• Examples: vital signs - 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Point-of-care (POC)
• Examples: Abbott hand-held blood analyzer (I-STAT) - glucometer
• Equipment and surgical instrumentation set up
• Examples: skin biopsies (excisional - shave - punch)
• Treatments and interventions
• Examples: Cryotherapy - incision and drainage - ambulation - and Foley coude' catheter insertion
• Wound care
• Examples: bandaging - application of dressings and wound measurements
• Specimen collection and Preparation
• Examples: collecting and labeling venous blood samples and mucous specimens
• Assisting with patient exams and screening
• Examples: gynecology exams
• Mental health care
• Examples: Crisis intervention - performs behavioral/mental health screens - conducts interviews - and observes behavioral patients
• Preparation of lab specimens and transfer to the lab for processing: Examples: Labeling - placing in the proper bin or tube system
• Assisting with patient exams and screening - utilizing technology such as telehealth peripherals
• Examples: primary care physical exams (heart - eye - ear - nose - throat (EENT)
• gait exams - and skin exams
• Patient education within scope of care or while providing an intervention
• Examples: post[1]procedural care - splint care and wound care
• Follow-up care: Examples: Suture removal
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Thoroughly and appropriately documents actions - interventions and procedures in the medical record
• Examples: Procedural notes - progress notes - screenings - photo-documentation and secure messaging
• Medication Administration: Medication administration will comply with national and local directives and policies
• Administration methods may include intramuscular - oral - topical - eye drops - ear drops - intranasal - rectal suppositories - local anesthetics - nebulized medications - subcutaneous - and intradermal
• Follows national and local pharmacy and facility guidelines for disposal of medications
• Other duties: Conducts or assists with the training of personnel in if appropriately trained - certified and/or qualified - for example: facility formal preceptors and Telehealth Presenter (TCT) instructors
• Can conduct or assist with stand-downs - community health programs - health-care screenings - and immunizations
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm PST as needed by the service (Intermittent) Position Description Title/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician/PD99968-S