Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Fargo VA Health Care System seeks a Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) to support and manage telehealth operations.

This entry-level position typically works at a clinical site and coordinates scheduling, prepares the telehealth room, and ensures smooth video connections between patient and provider sites. Responsibilities include documenting patient history in EMRs, assisting during real-time telehealth encounters, transmitting images and data,

Qualifications

• One year of health care experience or education in related field.
• Bachelor's degree with health care courses or equivalent education.
• Ability to operate telehealth equipment and electronic scheduling.
• Knowledge of patient privacy regulations.
• Experience with video conferencing in clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the telehealth environment and equipment for clinical visits.
• Facilitate real-time telehealth encounters with providers and patients.
• Capture and transmit clinical data/images per established guidelines.
• Schedule telehealth appointments across internal and external sites.
• Maintain patient privacy and safety during telehealth sessions.

Skills

Health care experience

Medical terminology

Electronic health records

Telehealth systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in health care field

Associate degree in health care field

Tools

Electronic medical records

Video conferencing

Telehealth platforms

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Fargo VA Health Care System. The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) serves in a generalist role to support and manage telehealth operations and is typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site (VA Medical Center - CBOC - VA Outreach Clinic - etc.) -

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States .Education and/or Experience Combination: 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 (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• OR Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• 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
• (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
• Grade Determinations Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) - GS-5: (1) Experience or Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (2) Assignment
• This is an entry level Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) position
• It is expected that the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to - schedule telehealth appointments using an electronic scheduling system
• obtain and document patient history and pertinent clinical information in electronic medical records
• prepares the telehealth room where the Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) readies the equipment for examination - establishes video conferencing connection - makes introductions between patient site and provider site
• monitors and maintains electronic schedule of rooms - patients - technologies - and presenters
• administers the patient satisfaction survey
• cleans and performs minor routine maintenance of assigned telehealth technology
• Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) - GS-6 (Full Performance Level): (1) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA).In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer systems and programs to perform a variety of tasks
• Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the healthcare team - external relations - customer service and patient education
• Ability to provide and receive guidance and technical direction
• Ability to plan - organize - set priorities - work as a team member - and effectively complete assignments
• Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• Knowledge of general clinical policies and procedures in a healthcare environment
• Skilled in the use of telehealth technologies for the facilitation of telehealth clinical encounters
• (3) Assignment
• This is considered the full performance level for this assignment
• The Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) performs a full range of duties and is responsible for day-to-day operation of the Connected Care Services
• Assignments at this level include - but are not limited to - screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care
• communicating effective with administrative and professional staff - and obtaining assistance for issues that may arise or backlogs that cannot be resolved in a timely manner
• Responsible for performing imaging duties in accordance with VHA national telehealth guidelines such as: capture and transmission of clinical images and/or data - obtains consent as necessary - generates consults according to established procedures for each telehealth specialty - transmits images or clinical data to the electronic medical record - provides patient education regarding general anatomy - disease processes and prevention as appropriate - and takes appropriate action based on the providers' findings and recommendations
• Responsible for facilitation of real-time Telehealth encounters by providing hands on assistance and reporting clinical observations under the direction of a licensed independent Practitioner or clinical specialist
• schedules - confirms and coordinates Telehealth services between internal and external VA and non-VA sites
• analyzes own work flow to determine potential problem areas and recommends corrective action to improve coordination between various units/facilities
• has regular contact with the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues - equipment needs - problems - data collection and any other logistical issues
• responsible for conducting routine inventories and consistently tracking location/status of Telehealth technology located at assigned site
• and communicates with National Telehealth Technology Help Desk to facilitate troubleshooting - repair - and coordination of replacement equipment as necessary
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Preparing the clinical environment - which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment
• Serving as a telepresenter within scope of practice during clinical video telehealth (CVT) and VA Video Connect (VVC) 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 clinical data manager for store and forward telehealth (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
• Completing standardized clinical questionnaires and templates within scope of training and applicable guidelines
• - ensuring that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations
• - ensuring that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations
• Receiving and scheduling requests for simple and complex intra-facility - and inter-facility telehealth appointments using an electronic resource-based scheduling system
• Screening patients for Telehealth modality and referring patients that do not meet established criteria to appropriate care
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license and will operate gas powered/electric passenger vehicles in order to provide Veteran care in the community
• Will drive in all types of weather and may be subjected to driving in all types of traffic
• Must possess the ability to operate and perform preventative maintenance
• Be able to respond to emergency situations when on the road (traffic accident - damage to property - damage to equipment - injury to self or someone else - vehicle breakdown)
• They must perform operator level maintenance of vehicles that includes - but is not limited to - getting gas - monitoring fluid levels - washing the vehicle - checking tire pressure - interior and exterior lights - and documenting any damage or unusual wear on the vehicle or its components.