Health Technician in Aurora, Colorado

Summary The Health Technician position is located at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) department. The purpose of the health technician is to provide support to inpatient Physical and Occupational therapists during encounters with patients referred to PM&R for various services. This position will work in the acute care hospital and on the acute rehab unit. Responsibilities The Health Technician (PM&R) performs the following major duties including, but not limited to: Support three separate programs in coordination with PMRS health care professionals including but not limited to: acute care physical and occupational therapy, Comprehensive Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP), and STRIDE Program (supervised walking program). May involve guarding the patient, pushing or positioning the wheelchair behind the patient or as directed by the therapist, assisting with trunk support in unsupported sitting, assistance with maximal assist to dependent transfers, donning and doffing gait belt, donning/doffing braces (such as TLSO, cervical collar, prosthesis, AFO, etc.) and being on standby for safety concerns that may arise. The Health Technician will assist with STRIDE, a supervised walking program for hospitalized veterans. Assists the therapists with treatments – makes gross visual observations, takes vitals and identifies subtle changes regarding the patient’s condition. Monitors patients for adverse reactions and takes corrective action based on established policy and past experience. Recognizes abnormalities and brings them to the attention of appropriate health care professionals. Answers the phone, providing non-clinical information; refers callers to appropriate staff; records telephone messages for delivery to PM&R physicians and therapists. Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD142070 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Designated and/or random drug testing may be required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily active and requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity and may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Required Documents” below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/20/2025. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-06 grade – Specialized Experience: 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 IOR you also must meet the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Equipment set-up, and/or clean-up. Maintaining files and records. Ensuring patient satisfaction surveys are distributed and received. Performing simple treatment procedures such as managing lines, assisting with transfers/lifts, and walking patients on the STRIDE program (supervised walking), and others as directed by PT/PTA/OT/COTA/SLP/Physiatrist or other providers. Using techniques to appropriately de-escalate disruptive patients. Observing patients and reporting changes in condition (deviation in color, pulse, respiration, temperature, and blood pressure). Taking and recording vital signs. Using a computer to perform administrative duties. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education. PLEASE NOTE: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. (RESUME AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.” Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.