Health Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Pontiac (MI); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in Pontiac, MI seeks a Health Technician in the Primary Care Service (PACT). The incumbent assists nursing staff, supports diagnostic and treatment activities, and adheres to Joint Commission and facility policies.

Eligibility hinges on English proficiency and a qualifying mix of experience or education. Qualified candidates may have specialized health-tech experience with phlebotomy, vital signs, specimen handling, and use of ECG/doppler equipment.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience or graduate education required or a combination thereof for GS-6.
• Proficiency in English for direct patient care.
• Experience using phlebotomy needles, vital signs, specimen handling, and basic lab procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist medical staff in diagnostic and treatment support.
• Obtain and document vital signs and other patient data.
• Use clinical equipment (ECG, Doppler, pulse oximetry) and maintain patient comfort.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Vital signs

ECG

Doppler

Education

Graduate education related to health

Tools

ECG Machine

Pulse Oximeter

Job description

The Health Technician works as a member of the Primary Care Service (PACT), under the guidance of the PACT/CBOC Clinical Nurse Manager. PACT provides comprehensive outpatient services to eligible veterans. The Health Technician assists medical and nursing staff through technical, specialized or support services for the diagnosing or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions. The incumbent adheres to all Joint Commission and facility regulations, policies and procedures. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/06/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education s described below:

• Individual Occupation Requirement: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position.

In addition to the above requirements, in order to qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following minimum qualifications,

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Skill and precision in using phlebotomy needles, tools, materials, and equipment; Performing diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording, and reporting vital sign deviations to provider; Obtaining specimens and labeling specimens for the laboratory; making gross visual observations and identifying subtle changes regarding patient's condition, documenting observations and communicating to practitioners; Using hot and cold packs, changing sterile dressings, caring for patients and giving treatments that require auxiliary equipment; Performing a variety of specialized tests and procedures such as monofilament testing, and doppler exam of the extremity artery, Gathering diagnostic information using specialized equipment such as pulse oximetry, bladder scanner and ECG Machine. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Half a year of graduate education (usually 9 semester hours) that is directly related to the work of this position. One full year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts required. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond. An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.
• To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires an ongoing mix of potentially long-periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and reaching over head. All patient care activities require PC keyboard and mouse use for data entry in the electronic patient record. Occasional heavy lifting will be required, particularly for patient transfers. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patient who are combative. In some instances, interaction with patients, caregivers, and staff can become intense, and the employee may be placed in a position of stress. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.