Summary

Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) 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 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.04/07/2025 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: All applicants must meet the following 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 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: 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: Patient Screening including collecting observations and patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel. Clinical tasks- assists outpatient licensed staff with provision of care with complex/ specialized and potentially life-threatening situations. Clinical tasks-responsibilities in providing care with competencies in variety of tasks including but not limited to vital signs - point of care testing - wound care - specimen preparation and delivery - patient education - suture removal. Observes patient for changes in status - reporting to licensed personnel. Recognizes life threatening situations and acts to correct emergent situations according to established national or local protocols. Prepares patients for evaluation - sets up and operates equipment - providing treatment during in person and virtual visits. 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 Preferred Qualification: Experience in the military as a Hospital Corpsman - Combat Medic - Medical Technician is highly desired. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Patient Care Technical Competence Technology Application 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. 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.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to performing ongoing patient care duties in an outpatient clinical setting: 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
• 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
• Observes patient status and keeps licensed personnel informed of any change in condition
• 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
• 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
• Work Schedule: Intermittent Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician/PD99968S 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.