Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic

Veterans Health Administration • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This Paramedic position is assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Transportation Services, Ambulance Service, at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. The position falls administratively and clinically under the Emergency Medicine Service, which includes the Emergency Department, Fast Track, and Emergency Ambulance Service. This is not a virtual position; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.

The technician responds to medical emergencies, assesses and triages patients, records vital signs and patient histories, provides Basic and Advanced Life Support, monitors cardiac waveforms, performs defibrillation, administers IV fluid resuscitation, and manages trauma injuries, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock. The role also involves safely transporting patients between medical facilities and providing ambulance emergency care for a range of medical, traumatic, childbirth, and environmental emergencies.

The employee operates emergency transport vehicles and medical equipment, communicates by telephone and radio, selects efficient routes using traffic and weather information, reads highway maps, programs GPS devices, and follows directions. The employee decontaminates vehicles, replenishes supplies and equipment, and performs safety inspections and operator maintenance. Paramedics work rotating shifts, including holidays, and may be recalled to maintain 24/7 coverage. Mandatory overtime may be required when runs extend beyond scheduled hours.

As a condition of continued employment, the Paramedic must obtain National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) certification no later than 18 months after employment. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized, and the Critical Skills Incentive is not approved.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Valid and current state-issued Paramedic license or certification.
• Current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) certification.
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider certification.
• Valid and unrestricted state driver's license.
• For GS-09 qualification, one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-08 involving relevant patient examination, emergency response and life support, patient transportation, communications, hazardous-incident emergency care protocols, and operation of emergency or patient transport vehicles; or two full years of directly related graduate education or a related master's degree; or an equivalent combination of graduate education and experience.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Must complete the required application steps and online assessment; selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and online onboarding.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must be able to perform extended heavy moving and lifting of patients, with recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and patient positioning, sometimes in adverse conditions or confined areas.
• May need to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during hazardous-material incidents or exercises; work may expose the employee to contagious diseases and potentially belligerent or violent patients.
• Must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.

Responsibilities

• Respond to medical emergencies and conduct patient triage, examinations, and assessments; obtain patient histories and record vital signs.
• Provide Basic and Advanced Life Support, monitor cardiac waveforms, perform defibrillation, administer IV fluid resuscitation, and manage trauma, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock.
• Provide ambulance emergency care for airway obstruction, respiratory or cardiac arrest, breathing problems, bleeding and shock, fractures, injuries, childbirth, other medical emergencies, and environmental emergencies.
• Safely transport patients between medical facilities.
• Operate emergency transport vehicles and emergency and medical equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Use telephone and radio communications systems to obtain and relay information.
• Select efficient routes considering traffic, weather, and facility locations; read highway maps, program GPS devices, and follow instructions.
• Decontaminate vehicles and prepare them for subsequent runs by replacing supplies and medical equipment.
• Perform vehicle safety inspections and operator maintenance.
• Obtain National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) certification within 18 months of employment as a condition of continued employment.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; benefits eligibility and specifics depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed