Summary

The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) serves in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth operations and is typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site that may require travel. This announcement is for 2 positions in 2 separate locations; one position will be located at the Anderson - SC Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC) - and the other will be located at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VAMC main hospital.

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
• English Language Proficiency: A candidate will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• See chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Experience and Education: 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 Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation
• OR Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Grandfathering Provision: All Health Technicians (Telehealth Clinical) employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series - and grade held
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• GS6 Grade Requirements: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS5
• There is no education substitution for this grade level of this position
• 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
• Assignment: This is considered the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of the Connected Care Services
• Assignments at this level include - but are not limited to - screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care
• communicating effectively with administrative and professional staff - and obtaining assistance for issues that may arise or backlogs that cannot be resolved in a timely manner
• Responsible for performing imaging duties in accordance with VHA national telehealth guidelines such as: capture and transmission of clinical images and/or data - obtains consent as necessary - generates consults according to established procedures for each telehealth specialty - transmits images or clinical data to the electronic medical record - provides patient education regarding general anatomy - disease processes and prevention as appropriate - and takes appropriate action based on the providers' findings and recommendations
• Responsible for facilitation of real-time Telehealth encounters by providing hands on assistance and reporting clinical observations under the direction of a licensed independent Practitioner or clinical specialist
• schedules - confirms and coordinates Telehealth services between internal and external VA and non-VA sites
• analyzes own work flow to determine potential problem areas and recommends corrective action to improve coordination between various units/facilities
• has regular contact with the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues - equipment needs - problems - data collection and any other logistical issues
• responsible for conducting routine inventories and consistently tracking location/status of Telehealth technology located at assigned site
• and communicates with National Telehealth Technology Help Desk to facilitate troubleshooting - repair - and coordination of replacement equipment as necessary
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS6
• 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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Primary responsibilities of the incumbent includes: Supporting clinical telehealth encounters for both the patient and provider locations by serving as the tele-presenter within scope of practice
• Functioning as an imager and clinical data manager for telehealth store and forward applications
• Managing real time clinical telehealth events - providing established instructions for patients - and providing technical and administrative support of telehealth operations
• Providing technical support to end-users
• Scheduling simple and complex intra-facility and inter-facility telehealth appointments
• Installing - configuring - maintaining - and troubleshooting technology - and performing a variety of program support duties as assigned
• Preparing the clinical environment - which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment
• Screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care
• Arranging and completing test video calls with Veterans to prepare the Veteran for clinical encounters using telehealth technologies
• Completing other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 60352F Permanent Change of Station (PCS):