Intermediate Care Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Palo Alto, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Intermediate Care Technician performs ongoing patient care duties in the Emergency Department, including screening and managing ambulatory patients. Duties may include obtaining patient health histories, chief complaints, and medication histories, and identifying health-related conditions that may affect patient health status. The technician evaluates patients for emergency medical conditions, assists with behavioral and psychiatric situations, recognizes life-threatening situations, performs airway management using BIPAP and advanced airway techniques, operates specialized medical equipment, and observes patient status while keeping physicians informed. Other duties may be assigned.

The work schedule is 0700–1930. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Employment is subject to requirements including U.S. citizenship (with limited exceptions under VA policy), English proficiency, background and security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, drug testing for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program. A probationary trial period of two years applies. The physical work involves moderate to heavy lifting of equipment or patients (15–44 pounds), as well as standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, twisting, and reaching.

Applicants must meet the individual occupational requirements and qualify through specialized experience, education, or a combination. Specialized experience is one year equivalent to at least GS-07, such as prior military medic experience. Alternatively, applicants may qualify with one year of directly related graduate education (18 semester hours), or a qualifying combination of experience and education beyond one year of full-time study. Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a certificate of equivalency.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, such as prior military medic experience; alternatively, qualifying graduate education or a combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding.
• Must serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Ability to meet the physical demands, including moderate to heavy lifting of 15–44 pounds and related physical activities.

Nice To Haves

• Current BLS training.
• Current ACLS training.
• Ability to provide screenings and management of ambulatory patients.
• Knowledge of complex and specialized procedures.
• Working knowledge of diagnostic signs.
• Ability to operate specialized medical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients for emergency medical conditions.
• Assist in behavioral and psychiatric situations, including crisis intervention, management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients, and one-on-one observation.
• Recognize life-threatening situations independently.
• Perform airway management using BIPAP and advanced airway techniques.
• Operate specialized medical equipment.
• Observe patients’ status and keep physicians informed.
• Screen and manage ambulatory patients, including obtaining health histories, chief complaints, and medication histories, and identifying health-related conditions that may affect health status.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• VA may grant approved service credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual rate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level