Medical Care Transportation Technician

Veterans Health Administration • San Antonio, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Transportation Services, Ambulance Service, at a VA Medical Center. The technician performs emergency medical care and basic life support procedures, and may provide technical support to the Emergency Department when not responding to Emergency Response Team calls.

The role involves assessing patients, determining the severity of illness or injury, identifying life-threatening problems, prioritizing treatment, and deciding when additional assistance is needed. The technician provides care under established medical standards and protocols, operates emergency transport vehicles and medical equipment, and prepares patient-care and vehicle-use documentation. The work includes transporting and moving patients and maintaining vehicle readiness.

EMTs work rotating shifts, including holidays, and may be recalled to maintain coverage of the Emergency Department and ambulance service around the clock. Mandatory overtime may be required when calls extend beyond scheduled hours. This is not a virtual position. The role has demanding working conditions, including patient lifting, exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous scenes, and possible encounters with intoxicated, drug-affected, or mentally unstable patients.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Current state-issued EMT license or certification.
• Current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) certification.
• Valid and unrestricted state driver's license.
• For the GS-07 grade level, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-06, including patient assessment and emergency care, operation of emergency vehicles and medical equipment, and communication with dispatchers and healthcare providers; or one full year of directly related graduate education; or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience.
• Meet the qualification requirements by the announcement closing date of 10/28/2026.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Subject to background/security investigation and pre-employment drug screening; selected applicants must complete online onboarding.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Able to perform work involving recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, often under adverse conditions or in confined spaces.
• Able to work in varied weather and traffic conditions and comply with safety precautions or use protective gear around infection risks, hazardous substances, and accident scenes.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients and determine the severity of illness or injury, identifying life-threatening problems.
• Prioritize appropriate medical treatment and procedures and determine the need for additional assistance.
• Perform patient triage and take and record vital signs as needed.
• Perform physical examinations, obtain patient histories, and assess neurological, cardiovascular, circulatory, skeletal, orthopedic, motor, sensory, and consciousness status.
• Provide basic life support at emergency scenes in accordance with established medical standards, including CPR and/or drug treatments when appropriate.
• Perform invasive and non-invasive procedures for patients with life-threatening and non-life-threatening conditions.
• Provide treatment as prescribed by protocol and modify protocols within prescribed limits when necessary.
• Operate emergency transport vehicles and use emergency medical equipment, tools, supplies, and telephone and radio communications systems.
• Select efficient routes to and from sites while considering traffic patterns and health facility locations.
• Follow traffic ordinances and regulations for emergency vehicle operation.
• Prepare patient-care and vehicle-use documentation and reports.
• Inspect vehicles for safety and perform operator maintenance, including monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, and checking tire pressure.
• Transport patients to and from medical areas and assist with lifting and carrying them into or out of vehicles and into treatment facilities.
• Provide technical support to the Emergency Department when not responding to Emergency Response Team calls.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families.
• VA may grant service credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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