Medical Care Transportation Technician (Paramedic)

Veterans Health Administration•San Antonio, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Transportation Services, Ambulance Service, at a VA Medical Center with an emergency room, acute care or urgent care clinic, or similar department. The technician performs basic and advanced life support procedures and transports patients requiring advanced life support, including inter-facility transports. The position is not virtual. The technician responds to on-campus emergency calls, assesses patients, selects appropriate prescribed care protocols, and provides advanced life support. Work includes patient transport and triage, taking and recording vital signs, administering medications, maintaining and sanitizing equipment, and supporting staff training in emergency medical care. The role may involve transporting non-ambulatory patients and responding to incidents involving chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials. EMTs work rotating shifts, including holidays, and may be recalled to maintain ambulance service and Emergency Department coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mandatory overtime may be required when runs extend beyond scheduled hours. The position involves extended periods of heavy patient moving and lifting, bending, stooping, stretching, and positioning patients, sometimes in confined areas or adverse conditions. Protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing may be required during hazardous-material incidents or exercises.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
A current state-issued Paramedic license or certification.
Current Basic Life Support Provider certification, maintained as a condition of employment.
Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider certification, maintained as a condition of employment.
A valid and unrestricted state-issued driver's license, maintained as a condition of employment.
For GS-09 qualification, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-08, or qualifying graduate education, or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience.
Specialized experience, if used, must relate to patient examination and body systems; emergency response and basic life support; patient transportation; communication with dispatchers and healthcare providers; emergency-care protocols, including hazardous-material incidents; and operating emergency or patient-transport vehicles.
Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must meet the GS-09 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-08.
Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
Complete a pre-employment physical examination if required, and undergo a background/security investigation.
Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification.
Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Meet the physical demands of heavy patient moving and lifting and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and patient positioning; protective breathing apparatus and clothing may be required during certain incidents or exercises.

Responsibilities

Transport patients requiring advanced life support to and from various locations, including between facilities.
Operate vehicles and emergency and medical equipment, tools, and supplies.
Assist with transporting non-ambulatory patients and follow applicable safety protocols.
Assess patients, including their medical history, body systems, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness, to support safe transport.
Perform patient triage and take and record vital signs as needed.
Clean and sanitize reusable equipment, dispose of disposable equipment appropriately, and follow infection-control guidelines.
Understand indications and dosing, and administer oral, intramuscular, and intravenous medications.
Conduct or assist with training personnel in CPR and basic and advanced emergency medical care techniques.
Respond to on-campus emergency calls and provide advanced life support in accordance with established protocols.
Make a preliminary assessment of the patient's condition and select an appropriate prescribed protocol.