Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)

Full Job Description

The Long Beach VA Medical Center is searching for a Health Technician (HT) to serve within the Nursing, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Rehab service.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2026.

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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive care for patients in various states of dependency; knowledge of interpersonal skills to give reassurances to the patient, encourage him to receive the proper treatment and help cope with physical conditions; Knowledge and understanding of the neurophysiology of the autonomic nervous system and the functioning of the upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron lesion with the corresponding intestinal and bladder dysfunction; Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the urinary system; Knowledge of emergency cardiac arrest procedures; Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the care plan and recovery; Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in diagnostic and treatment procedures.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Diagnostic Medical Testing Patient Care Technical Competence 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.

Physical Requirements: The physical and mental status of the Health Technician should enable them to perform all their duties under normal and emergent conditions.

The evaluation of an individual's ability to perform efficiently and without hazard to self of others will encompass a composite consideration of physical, mental, and emotional ability as related to realistic requirements for the duties and responsibilities to be assumed (VA 5019, Part II, Appendix A 4/15/2002).

Duties regularly require utilizing safe patient handling devices in lifting and positioning patients, most bariatric or unable to assist.

There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling.

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:

Duties include but are not limited to: Organize work by reading and routing incoming correspondence, collecting information, and initiating telecommunication.

Provided courteous phone coverage and ensure telephone calls, office visitors, and patient are screened and referred to appropriate individuals in a timely manner.

Enter and follows up on work orders for broken or malfunctioning equipment and facility maintenance request in a timely manner.

Performs daily rounds to ensure routine equipment such as vital sign machines, call lights, blanket warmers, gurneys are operable and contain all components and reports discrepancies immediately.

Coordinate transportation with caregivers, patients, and staff and transportation companies as needed Participates in weekly Environment of Care (EOC) rounds to ensure Joint Commission Standards are met on the ward.

Orders office supplies.

Performs timekeeper duties for nursing wards, which includes following up on exceptions and immediate reporting of any leave and pay issue with background information to the Nurse Manager for resolution.

On admission, discharge, or transfer, verifies and assures that the record of the patient treatment is administratively complete.

Performs quality assurance monitoring using appropriate tools regarding the completion and contents of the patient record.

Reviews the patient record, collecting and updating insurance information, patient demographic and next-of-kin information, emergency information, and verifying accuracy Provides patient, caregiver and family teaching in relation to unit orientation of routines Maintains all patients' records, either electronic or paper, according to regulation, ensuring each entry contains proper patient and health care identification Organize patient chart filing cabinet and create an adequate number of blank charts for incoming off tour weekend patient admissions Responsible for creation and destruction of patient wrist bands in accordance with privacy guidelines.

Coordinates inpatient and post hospital appointments as needed. Handling and destruction of patient information using best business practices, and compliance with HIPAA and healthcare industry ethics.

Responding to call lights by answering patient requests and/or following up to ensure nursing personnel are informed to meet patient needs.

Assigns nurse call phone at the beginning of each shift and updates the Bed Management System to respond to assignments of the phones.

Assist with Bed Management System by updating patient's assigned bed accurately, complete all patient status comments, assign staff name and provide bed cleaning comments in a timely manner.

Assists in space utilization and readiness on inpatient wards by checking for cleanliness, rotation of supplies and equipment, follow up of equipment repairs or turn-in and safety precautions.

Creates adequate number of patient labels for lab and other inter-department use.

Solid knowledge of multiple electronic systems and current computer technology to include VISTA application, CPRS, Microsoft Suite applications, scanning, faxing, printers and copiers.

Proactively assist patients, caregivers and families in completing patient satisfaction complaints and ensuring forms are delivered timely to Nurse Manager/Designee for processing.

Provides assistance with delivery of laboratory specimens or other items to support the unit. Report linen, food service or any operational delays to Nurse Manager/Designee in a timely manner.

Assists the Nurse Manager/Designee in reviewing various reports such as work orders and supply orders. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)/PD13641-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized