This position is located at the Portland VA Medical Center, Inpatient & Emergency Services, Patient Transport (Escort) Unit. The incumbent provides guidance and information pertaining to patient whereabouts and access other services as needed to provide required care and services. Incumbent will maintain a patient log to assist in patient flow and quick reference and will utilize telephones and computer to access patient information. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: 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. OR Education and Training for GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position. For GS-4: Specialized Experience: 6 months of generalized experience and 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-3 grade level in the federal service examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Safely transports patients by stretcher, wheelchair or gurney. Collects and delivers all specimens. Provides general clerical/administrative support: receptionist, record keeping, answers the telephone; OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-4 level. Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-4 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed two (2) years above High School education with course(s) related to a study in medical, health, or related fields. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts required; OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-4 level. Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-4 level. You must have a combination of of college level education beyond one (1) year with course(s) related to a study in medical, health, or related fields, and General and/or Specialized Experience to meet total experience requirements. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-4. NOTE: 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. ["Duties include but not limited to: Safely transports patients by stretcher, wheelchair, gurney and/or accompany the ambulatory patients who need assistance to areas within the Medical Center and OHSU. Recognizes and reports significant changes in patients that are being transported. Maintains communication with Patient Transport Courier and Patient Support Team Supervisor at each delivery point. Dispatches trips to all using services via CPRS consult package and prioritizes workload for Patient Transport and Courier Service. These may include OHSU Radiation Therapy, Casey Eye Institute, OHSU Dental School, Surgery, Pathology, Radiology, Pharmacy, MRI and other areas as needed. VAMC dispatch is to all areas within the medical center. Is responsible for prioritizing various transports based on patient care needs and logistics. Including patient condition, treatment, modality, mode of transport and scheduling. Gives guidance to Patient Transport & Courier staff/volunteers to promote efficient and safe transport. Collects and delivers all specimens, labs, consults, x-rays, charts and all medical related materials and equipment throughout the Medical Center and OHSU. Responds and assists in all emergencies, including, but not limited to codes (cardiac arrest, behavioral emergency and fire alert), and internal/external disasters throughout the Medical Center and the VA Bridge. In a dignified manner, provides a full range of services to VA staff in caring for expired patients which includes preparing and transferring the body, as well as transporting to the morgue. Secures patient's confidence and cooperation through the discharge process. Explains procedures for transition through pharmacy and transportation. Varies procedure based on patients needs. Advocate for the discharging unit and respond to inquiries pertaining to the process. Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the unit. Performs a variety of receptionist, record keeping, and miscellaneous duties. Receives visitors, answers the telephone, and refers calls to appropriate staff or records messages. Plans, organizes and coordinates activities of the unit. Communicates in a tactful and courteous manner with a wide variety of individuals with varying levels of understanding. Uses software to produce specific printouts. Uses word processing software to produce a variety of documents. Receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries. Reports obvious changes in patient behavior to the professional staff. Work Schedule: Varies to include days, night, weekend and holidays. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD20270A Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.