Health Technician - Occupational Health

Veterans Health Administration•North Chicago, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health Technician is located in the Occupational Health Medicine Department of the Fleet Medicine Directorate at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois. The center is a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois providing medical and dental services to U.S. military veterans, recruits, active-duty personnel, and eligible beneficiaries. The position processes patients through the Occupational Medicine Clinic while protecting patient privacy; supports hearing conservation activities; performs occupational health screenings; provides health information; and maintains testing equipment and clinic supplies. The work schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position. Promotion to the full-performance level may be possible without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. Relocation and recruitment incentives and a permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is not approved for a Critical Skills Incentive.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Selected applicants are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment and must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Applicants must meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement when applicable to their federal employment history.
GS-05 qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04, or qualifying education consisting of a full four-year bachelor's degree with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position, or an allowable combination of education and experience.
GS-06 qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, or at least 9 semester hours of directly related graduate education, or an allowable combination of education and experience.
GS-07 qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06, or at least 18 semester hours of directly related graduate education, or an allowable combination of education and experience.
Specialized experience for GS-05 and GS-06 includes performing duties for a medical practice, assisting in outpatient care, providing patient education, and documenting patient data.
Specialized experience for GS-07 includes developing and maintaining a Hearing Conservation database; using the Defense Occupational Environmental Health Readiness System; evaluating outer and middle ear function; issuing hearing devices and hearing protection and instructing on their proper use; administering immunizations and tuberculosis skin tests; and reviewing immunization records for needed titers or vaccinations.
Submit transcripts if education is used to meet any qualification requirement. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
Applicants must complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
The position requires completion of a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of federal Occupational Safety and Health programs, including asbestos medical surveillance, hearing and sight conservation, respiratory protection, ionizing radiation, blood-borne pathogens, communicable disease programs, and infection control guidelines.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently when interviewing and counseling patients in a tactful, courteous, and professional manner.

Responsibilities

Process patients through the Occupational Medicine Clinic while protecting their privacy.
Develop and maintain a Hearing Conservation database.
Evaluate outer and middle ear function using otoscopic examination and tympanometry, and record findings.
Develop and deliver hearing conservation training programs.
Perform spirometry screening and blood pressure testing, and alert physicians and nurses when emergency care may be needed.
Provide patients with information on health-related topics.
Calibrate and document testing equipment.
Monitor stock levels of equipment, forms, and consumable items.
Perform clerical tasks, including typing, filing, scheduling appointments, and maintaining logs and health records.