Health Technician - Emergency Department

Description:

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.

Requirements:

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)