Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical)

Veterans Health Administration•Fargo, ND

13h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located within the Fargo VA Health Care System. The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) serves in a generalist role supporting and managing telehealth operations, typically at a clinical care delivery site such as a VA Medical Center, Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, or VA Outreach Clinic. The role supports clinical video telehealth, VA Video Connect, and store-and-forward telehealth encounters, and performs duties within the scope of training and applicable guidelines. The technician prepares clinical spaces and medical and telecommunications equipment, facilitates telehealth encounters, captures and transmits clinical images and data, schedules and coordinates telehealth appointments, and screens patients for appropriate telehealth modalities. The position also involves maintaining equipment and the care environment, protecting patient privacy, documenting clinical information, and providing Veteran care in the community using a government vehicle. The position is full performance at GS-6, with selections possible at GS-5 to GS-6.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
One year of experience in a health care field demonstrating ability to perform the work or understanding of it; or four academic years of post-high-school education leading to a bachelor's degree with occupation-related courses; or a qualifying combination of experience and education.
For the qualifying experience-and-education combination, examples include six months of health care experience plus two years of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours of health care-related courses, or an associate degree in a health care-related field; alternatively, six months of health care experience plus successful completion of a qualifying U.S. Armed Forces health care technician, hospital corpsman, or medical service specialist course.
For GS-6, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
For GS-6, comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs; ability to communicate and interact with health care team members and others, provide customer service and patient education, and give and receive guidance and technical direction; ability to plan, organize, prioritize, work as a team member, and complete assignments; ability to interpret and apply complex written instructions; knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures; and skill using telehealth technologies.
Valid driver's license and ability to operate gas-powered or electric passenger vehicles, drive in varied weather and traffic, respond to roadside emergencies, and perform operator-level vehicle maintenance.
Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
Satisfy applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete required onboarding and application steps, including an online assessment.
Register with Selective Service if subject to the requirement for males born after December 31, 1959.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as required.
Provide transcripts when using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Responsibilities

Prepare clinical environments and medical and telecommunications equipment for examinations and treatment.
Serve as a telepresenter during clinical video telehealth and VA Video Connect encounters by establishing video connections, introducing patients and providers, and following clinician instructions.
Capture clinical images, collect data, and electronically transmit them for clinical review during store-and-forward telehealth encounters in accordance with VHA guidelines.
Maintain safe patient care practices, including inventory management and cleaning clinical equipment and care environments, while following patient-safety procedures.
Complete standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within the scope of training and applicable guidelines.
Protect patient privacy by complying with information-security and patient-privacy regulations.
Receive and schedule simple and complex intra-facility and inter-facility telehealth appointments using an electronic resource-based scheduling system.
Screen patients for telehealth modality and refer those who do not meet established criteria to appropriate care.
Obtain and document patient history and pertinent clinical information in electronic medical records.
Monitor and maintain electronic schedules of rooms, patients, technologies, and presenters; administer patient satisfaction surveys.
Perform routine cleaning and minor maintenance of assigned telehealth technology and conduct inventories, tracking technology location and status.
Coordinate telehealth services between VA and non-VA sites, and communicate process, equipment, and workflow issues to relevant staff.
Provide hands-on assistance during real-time telehealth encounters and report clinical observations under the direction of a licensed independent practitioner or clinical specialist.
Obtain consent when necessary, generate specialty consults according to procedures, transmit images or data to the electronic medical record, and provide appropriate patient education.
Take appropriate action based on provider findings and recommendations.
Troubleshoot telehealth technology and coordinate repairs or replacement equipment with the National Telehealth Technology Help Desk as needed.
Operate a passenger vehicle to provide Veteran care in the community, respond appropriately to road emergencies, and perform operator-level vehicle maintenance, including fueling, checking fluids and tires, cleaning, and documenting damage or unusual wear.