The Columbia VA Health Care System (VAHCS) opened in 1932 at its current location. The facility has 204 skilled nursing beds, which includes acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care. The hospital provides primary, secondary, and some tertiary care. The facility is a complex teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology, education, and research. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education and/Experience. Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR, Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (transcript required). OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field (transcript required); or (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-05: Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS:06 Preferred Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.(a) Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks.(b) Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education.(c) Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction.(d) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.(e) Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex written instructions.(f) Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment.(g) Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/96 PART II APPENDIX G50. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 5 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical areas sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required. ["This position is in the Audiology Clinic at Columbia VA Health Care System. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the Medical Center and its' CBOCs including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The Health Technician (Tele Health Clinical) provides clinical and administrative support for the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service and tele audiology and tele speech programs. Under the supervision of the audiologist, the incumbent assists with audiologic assessments, hearing aid services (including hearing aid selection, and hearing aid fittings, hearing aid orders, and repairs. Under the supervision of the speech-language pathologist, the incumbent assists with speech/language evaluations, clinical evaluations of swallowing, and laryngectomy care. The Health Technician (Tele Health Clinical) supports the tele audiology and tele speech operations of the clinic. This includes elevated level support, training, and advanced management of tele health operations with duties that may require travel. Supports clinical tele presenter within scope of practice, functioning as an imager and supporting clinical data for tele health store and forward applications, managing real time clinical tele health events, providing established patient education, and providing technical and administrative support of tele health operations. Additional responsibilities includes evaluating tele health operations and supporting performance improvement efforts, providing technical support to end-users, scheduling simple and complex intra-facility and inter-facility tele health appointments, installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting technology, and performing a variety of program support duties as assigned. The incumbent might be certified and function as a preceptor for Clinical Video, and/or Store and Forward Tele health Operations. This is considered the full performance level for the Health Technician (Tele Health Clinical) position. The incumbent performs a full range of duties in support of the audiology and speech pathology clinic and is responsible for day-to-day operation of tele audiology and tele speech services at the assigned location and between the assigned location and remote sites of care. The incumbent may receive guidance from more experienced staff members and may provide guidance to less experienced staff members but requires minimal direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to: Configuring, installing, troubleshooting, cleaning, and performing minor routine maintenance of assigned tele health technology. Providing established education and training to Veterans, staff and providers on the use of tele health technologies and serving as a point of contact to answer questions and address concerns related to these technologies. Maintaining knowledge of and skill in applying an extensive body of rules, procedures, and operations in tele health-related technologies and a variety of computer hardware and software used for telecommunications, data entry and retrieval, record maintenance, document and report generation. Preparing the clinical environment, which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment. Serving as a tele presenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect encounters including tasks such as establishing and maintaining video conferencing connections, making introductions between patient site and provider site, following instructions of a clinician to facilitate an effective clinical encounter. Serving as an imager and manager of clinical data for store and forward tele health (SFT) clinical encounters including tasks such as capturing images, collecting data and transmitting them electronically for clinical review in accordance with VHA national guidelines. Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following appropriate procedures for inventory management, cleaning of clinical equipment and the care environment while following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures. All DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT SHOWN. MAY PERFORM ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS ASSIGNED. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00 pm. (Subject to change based on agency needs). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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