Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, GA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic works for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Transportation Services, Ambulance Service. The position is located at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and performs basic and advanced life support procedures in an emergency room, acute care or urgent care clinic, or similar department. This is not a virtual position; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

The position responds to medical emergencies, assesses and treats patients, and transports them to appropriate medical facilities. It involves operating emergency vehicles and medical equipment, communicating with dispatchers and health care providers, maintaining vehicle readiness, and working rotating shifts of up to 12 hours. Shifts include holidays; occasional recall and mandatory overtime may be required to maintain 24/7 coverage and accommodate ambulance run times. The position is subject to drug testing and a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• A current, valid, unrestricted state driver's license.
• Valid National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic certification, submitted with the application.
• Current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) certification, submitted with the application.
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider (ACLS) certification, submitted with the application.
• For the GS-09 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, directly related to the position; or two years of graduate education or a directly related master's degree; or an equivalent combination of graduate education beyond one year and experience.
• Specialized experience includes knowledge of body systems and patient examination; responding to emergencies and providing basic life support; transporting patients; using communications equipment to relay information; knowledge of emergency-care protocols for chemical, nuclear, biological, and hazardous-material incidents; and operating emergency or patient transport vehicles.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Subject to background/security investigation, pre-employment drug testing, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must complete required application steps and an online assessment.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• The position involves extended heavy lifting and moving of patients, recurring bending, stooping, stretching, and patient positioning, sometimes in adverse conditions or confined areas.
• May need to spend prolonged periods using protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during hazardous-material incidents or exercises; may be exposed to infections, contagious diseases, and potentially belligerent or violent patients.

Responsibilities

• Respond to accidents and emergencies involving injury, illness, or life-threatening situations.
• Triage patients; take and record vital signs; conduct patient assessments; and obtain patient histories.
• Make preliminary assessments of patients and determine whether and how they can be moved and where they should be transported.
• Provide basic and advanced life support, including cardiac monitoring and defibrillation, IV fluid resuscitation, and treatment of trauma injuries, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock.
• Operate emergency transport vehicles and emergency medical equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Use telephone and radio communications equipment and systems to coordinate emergency transport.
• Select efficient routes based on traffic, weather, and health facility locations; read highway maps, program GPS devices, and follow directions.
• Decontaminate vehicles, replenish supplies and medical equipment, and conduct safety inspections and operator maintenance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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