Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician

Summary This Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) position is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Transportation Services (VTS), Ambulance Service, in one of the various VA Medical Center (VAMC) locations, with an emergency room, acute care or urgent care clinic, or other similar departments performing basic life support procedures. This position is located in Togus, ME. Responsibilities ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The major duties include but are not limited to: Conducts patient assessments, assesses severity of illness/injury, and identifies life threatening problems; Determines/prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance; Performs patient triage, takes and records patient's vital signs as needed; Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness; Administers basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and/or drug treatments; Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions; Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools and supplies which may include ambulance, extrication tools, blood pressure cuff, automated external defibrillator (AED), glucose monitor, oxygen terminal, pulse oximetry monitor, medical supplies, radio communications equipment, and general office equipment; Provides treatment as prescribed in protocol, making modifications to the protocol, if necessary, within prescribed limits; When not responding to Emergency Response Team calls, may serve in a technical support capacity to the Emergency Department; Selects the most efficient route to and from sites, taking into consideration traffic patterns, health facility locations, etc.; Operates emergency transport vehicle and uses telephone and radio communications equipment and systems; Adheres to traffic ordinances and regulations pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles; Prepares appropriate patient and vehicle use documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met; Provides a thorough safety inspection and operator maintenance (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure, etc.); Takes patients to and from medical areas; Assists in lifting and carrying patients into or out of transport vehicles and into treatment facility; and, Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technicians work rotating shifts, including holidays, and are subject to occasional recall to maintain adequate coverage of the Emergency Department and ambulance service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mandatory overtime may be required due to run times that may extend beyond normal scheduled work hours. Condition of continued employment: The Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician shall obtain certification as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Basic) no later than (NLT) 18 months after employment as condition of continued employment with VA. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications English Language Proficiency Requirement: 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 perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ Selective Placement Factor (SCREEN-OUT) - THREE Selective Placement Factors (SPF) (skill, knowledge, ability, or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job) have been identified for these positions. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factors for the positions are: Must possess a current and valid state issued license/certification or National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Basic) Certification for eligibility for employment (Emergency Medical Technician). (COPY OF CERTIFICATION OR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration.) Must possess and maintain a current and valid Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. (COPY OF CERTIFICATION OR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration.) Possess a current and valid and unrestricted state-issued driver's license. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. ~AND~ In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factors above, to qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. 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. Specialized experience includes applying skill of body systems (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory) to conduct patient assessments and provide emergency patient medical care; operating emergency vehicles and a variety of emergency/medical equipment, tools, supplies; and using communication techniques and equipment to relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates, AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Medical Care Transportation Technician - Emergency Medical Technician position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CLINICAL DATA COLLECTION/DOCUMENTATION EMERGENCY CARE PATIENT CARE TRANSPORTATION IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: The work of the position involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. May be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. On a regular and recurring basis, exposed to infection and contagious diseases, is required to work in all types of weather and traffic conditions, and faces risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes, dangerous substances, cuts, bruises, etc., requiring complying with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. Work may also expose to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior. 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/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: 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/. 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.