This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 10/08/2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 10/20/2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/08/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Knowledge of anatomy - first aid and basic patient care. Ability to establish rapport and interview patients to collect information and data about current health status and immediate needs. Able to communicate findings orally and in writing clearly and succinctly. Ability to work effectively with patients/families in crisis. Knowledge of medical terminology - drug terminology - and equipment/supply terminology - and skills sufficient to identify and use equipment and supplies properly. Ability to communicate proper use with nurses - medical staff - and family members. Knowledge of specialized terminology associated with the work in the VA Medical Center and In-depth knowledge of the terminology used in the emergency department. An understanding of disease and illness and skill sufficient to teach patients. Provides instruction on self care at home. Reinforces to patients and family members the importance of compliance with the prescribed plan of care. Individual Occupation 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. 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/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds Light lifting - under 15 pounds Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds Light carrying - under 15 pounds Pulling hand over hand (8-12 hours) Pushing (8-12 hours) Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Both hands required Walking (8-12 hours) Standing (8-12 hours) Kneeling (8-12 hours) Repeated bending (8-12 hours) Climbing - legs only Climbing - use of legs and arms Both legs required Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Ability to distinguish basic colors Hearing (aid may be permitted)
Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to: Receives requests of instructions for procedures
Interprets requests of instructions for medical or health care personnel
Performs as technician in charge of office
Receives assignments for a variety of difficult examinations
Employee independently interprets and carries out the requests
Secures patients confidence and cooperation during procedures
Explains procedures - positions patients for desired results - and cushions and shields patients as appropriate
Varies procedure or position to adjust to patients medical condition
Independently explains procedures and positions for a variety of difficult invasive procedures
Answers patients questions during procedures
Operates and maintains medical instruments and equipment for diagnostic and treatment procedures
Determines technical factors - sets controls and operates equipment and instruments
Sets up and adjusts specialized equipment with multiple features that requires precise patient positioning to operate correctly
Selects and sets technical factors for invasive procedures
Sets equipment parameters based on the patients diagnosis or specific and/or individualized testing criteria
Makes precise adjustments to clarify readings and measurements
Assists in the performance or independently performs invasive procedures
Uses a practical knowledge of the location and function of major body organs and structures related to the specialized field in which the employee works
Assists during the procedures by monitoring patients condition - and monitoring and recording reactions
Collects information
Recognizes deviations in patients condition and takes appropriate action
Sets up all necessary accessories or supplies and advises other medical personnel of new equipment - accessories - and supplies
Ensure proper cleaning and performs minor maintenance and adjustments
Performs medical procedures such as starting IV's or removing needles - etc
Assists medical staff with or performs diagnostic procedures such as EKG used to diagnose medical conditions
Performs the full range of complex procedures using specialized equipment that requires precise adjustments to respond to individual patient conditions or test sequences
Enters EKG - troponin time - and blood culture time date into the automated patient data system
Serves as technical expert in the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment and instruments
Assists in the performance or independently performs invasive procedures
Uses a practical knowledge of the location and function of major body organs and structures in order to position the patient and/or connect monitoring equipment to take optimum advantage if the equipment capabilities
Makes continuing adjustments to equipment and positions as results are interpreted
Sets up all necessary accessories or supplies and advises other medical personnel of new equipment - accessories - or supplies
Ensures proper cleaning and performs minor maintenance and adjustments
Assists during procedures by monitoring patients condition and recording reactions
Provides assistance of a technical - specialized - or support nature to health and medical personnel in the diagnosis or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions
Supports medical and health care professionals in tests and procedures to diagnose and treat medical conditions
Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking - recording and reporting to supervisor deviations in vital signs - taking specimens - labeling specimens for the laboratory
Arranges and passes medical instruments and materials to medical/health professional for a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures including
Performing 12 lead ECG - 12 lead rhythm strip and 12 lead right sided ECG and manual blood pressure testing
Work Schedule: 8 & 12 hr shifts
days - evenings - nights
rotating weekends/holidays
Based on the needs of the service
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Emergency Department/PD07908A and PD05038A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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.
