Health Technician - Pulmonary

Health Technician - Pulmonary

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Houston, Texas

Salary Range: $51849 - $67401 Per Year

Job Summary: The Health Technician serves as a member of the Clinic Medical team assisting with patient care activities under the direction of the Section Chief or designee. The position is responsible for expediting the care and treatment of patients and ensuring implementation of all requested diagnostic exams and performing routine and complex patient care duties. This position is required to perform administrative and clerical duties.

Major Duties:

• Assist physicians, APP and/or Registered Nurses with procedures such as obtaining supplies necessary for them to perform clinic evaluations, procedures, stocking the supply cart, and obtaining miscellaneous supplies from unit stockroom or SPD. Clean equipment after procedure using proper infection control techniques. Assist the registered nurse with rooming the patients and obtaining the vital signs Assist with tracheostomy suctioning and care when needed. Participates in performance improvement activities that may require monitoring and collecting data. Responds appropriately and sensitively to patients with severe co-morbidities. Assists health care professionals to position patients and answer patient's questions during complex procedures. Responds to emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure, hemorrhaging, and shock by assisting in the performance of resuscitation measures. Assist with setting up bedside medical procedures, for example: Thoracentesis. Assist with moving or repositioning patients during procedure. Deliver all specimens collected to lab correctly labeled and in a timely manner. Obtain vital signs ABG's, blood sugar testing, blood drawing, pulse oximetry . Perform EKG at the bedside when ordered. Must be able to correctly apply electrodes for 12- lead EKG, obtain EKG print out and report immediately to the physician, RN staff and/or Charge Nurse. Request and apply prosthetic equipment required by patient to aid in minimizing functional limitations and reinforce instructions for patients on equipment issued. Apply ace bandage, anti-embolic stockings as ordered. Observes patients for vision, speech, or hearing impairments. Able to determine if a patient is ambulatory, requires a wheelchair, is bedridden, alert or confused, continent or incontinent. Set up rooms for admissions, canisters/suction in place, oxygen connection, nebulizer machines, IV pumps, and other necessary equipment. Perform blood sugar testing and phlebotomy including blood culture collection using aseptic technique to avoid specimen contamination. Collect other specimens as ordered and deliver specimens to the lab as requested. Operate equipment such as bed scales, bed lift scales, ceiling lifting devices. Weigh patients and obtain vital signs as ordered and directed by RN or medical staff. Assist patient with the use of incentive spirometry and document patient's responses. Assist with patient ambulation, patient movement, and transport. Enter notes or patient data (Activity of Daily Living Note} into patient medical records via CPRS. Closely observe 1:1 high risk suicidal, homicidal or confused patients to prevent them from harm or elopement. Clean Reusable Medical Equipment between each patient use and per policy. Utilize Universal Precautions and apply appropriate isolation protocols in providing care for all general medicine patients. Follows proper hand washing techniques as well as the use of hand sanitizer between patients. Disposes of infectious materials correctly Scheduling patient appointments or consults as directed. Distribute WatchPat devices when needed to Veterans and teach them on its use to obtain home sleep data. Assist providers in specialized sleep clinics, eg: Inspire Clinic, or other clinics like Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm (subject to change based on agency needs) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician - Pulmonary/PD03918A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work can be physically taxing and will require standing and walking. It may require lifting and moving patients into and out of stretchers or chairs and pushing or pulling wheeled equipment. Work Environment: The work environment has hazards associated with coming in contact with numerous infectious diseases; physical hazards from slipping and falling, needle punctures or cuts with sharp objects; being physically injured while assisting patients to move, stand, etc., and the possibility of direct physical assault by patients.

Qualifications: 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement: 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 the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must meet the following to qualify at the GS-06 level: GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 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: Experience providing vital sign documentation, Maintaining accurate and confidential documentation of patient data and treatment plans; Effective oral and written communication skills, and Efficiently prioritizing tasks in a fast pace environment. OR Substitute education for experience - To qualify, applicant must have successfully completed a half year (9 credits) of graduate education or completed an internship directly related to the position. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts required) OR Combination of experience and education - Equivalent combination of education (beyond the undergraduate education, if related) and specialized experience as described above. This education and experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position. (Transcripts required) 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.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12831553. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-02