Health Technician (OA)

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of the position is to assist the primary nurse with patient care, receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries.

Determines nature of inquiry and independently responds to all administrative questions, and assists patients, visitors and others requesting information, guidance, or referral for special assistance.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/20/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide care to patients.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience working as an advanced EMT or a paramedic.

OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of 1 year of graduate education (18 semester hours) directly related to work of this position.

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.

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 1 year of full-time study.

Must be able to type at least 40 words per minute.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Communications Organizational Awareness Patient Care Specimen Collection Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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/.

Major Duties:

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Major Duties Include: Performs direct patient care including personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, safety, etc.

Receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries and makes referrals.

Receives and responds to a number of unclear inquires form patients concerning a variety of medical personnel and administrative matters. Maintains stock of supplies and sterility of instruments.

Performs or assists Triage staff with diagnostic procedures including EKGs, venipunctures, and alcohol breathalyzer used to diagnose medical conditions.

Assists in the performance of or independently performs procedures such as insertion of urinary catheters and intravenous catheters.

Performs patient care procedures such as collection of specimens, applying dressings, and adjusting supportive equipment.

Performs duties in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable laws and policies.

Instructs patients in crutch, walker and or cane use and ensures correct fitting of equipment. Performs duties involving customer service and or public liaison.

Performs duties in accordance to applicable safety precautions and infection control. Operate emergency department equipment such as Telemetry and automated external defibrillator (AED).

Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the Triage area. Collects and organizes statistical data for reports.

Performs patient charting using standard medical terminology entering information regarding care rendered, condition and progress.

Work Schedule: varies must accept all shifts Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (OA)/PD03925A and PD02148ORelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate to heavy (15-44 pounds) lifting of equipment or patients and requires standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, twisting, reaching and similar activities in an immediate or limited time frame.