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USAJOBS · 1 month ago

Health Technician - Pulmonary

Houston, Texas, USA

Full-time

Onsite

Entry Level

$52K/yr - $67K/yr

1+ years exp

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is seeking a Health Technician to join their Clinic Medical team. The role involves assisting with patient care activities, expediting care and treatment, and performing both routine and complex patient care duties under the direction of medical staff.

ConsultingGovernmentHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyInternetStaffing Agency

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

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

Qualification

Vital sign documentationPhlebotomyApplicationPatient care assistanceInfection control techniquesTask prioritizationPatient observationEffective communication

Required

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job

Subject to a background/suitability investigation

Designated and/or random drug testing may be required

May serve a probationary period

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements

Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment

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

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)

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

Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.