Motor Vehicle Operator - Patient Transport

Full Job Description

This position is located at the VA Medical Center in Columbia, SC.

The position operates one or more types of patient transport vehicles, including emergency vehicles, patient transport vans/buses and other types transport vehicles, capable of carrying up to 8 or more passengers, to and from VA Medical Center facilities, private healthcare facilities, and other private sector areas like patient homes, railway, bus stations and airports.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Work requires reaching, turning, or moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate hand and foot controls.

Position will be required to assist patients with a variety of medical conditions and/or disabilities.

Associated duties require stooping, bending, lifting, climbing, and securing patients, oxygen, and wheelchairs with appropriate securing devices.

Lifts and carries objects weighing up to 50 pounds and heavier.

Must follow prescribed safety procedures using appropriate lifting methods and body mechanics for heavy lifting or moving of heavy objects.

Must be able to drive for a minimum of a four-hour period and stay mentally alert.

If driver realizes they are not mentally alert, they must use good judgment in pulling over at the first safe area, road- checking vehicle with walk-around inspection, and continue driving as soon as possible.

Incumbent must pass a VA Physical and adhere to all VA and DOT drug and alcohol testing and guidelines. Drivers work mostly outside and operate vehicles in all kinds of weather.

Drivers are exposed to dirt, fumes, and to the possibility of cuts, bruises, and broken bones as a result of accidents when loading and unloading the vehicle.

Must have ability to drive in rural areas, very congested Metropolitan traffic and/or construction zones.

Must safely handle patients, both stretcher and wheelchair, in loading and unloading from vans and buses.

The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Shift work may be required.

May be required to work overtime after normal working hours providing it is an emergency or their services are needed to transport patients.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications.

For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for.

Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success.

Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1).

Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration.

The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements.

While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations) Motor Vehicles Reliability And Dependability Without more than normal supervision Work Practices IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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. Major Duties:

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Drives predetermined and/or scheduled routes or special runs. Arrives at and departs from pickup and discharge points at scheduled times.

Operates the doors to allow passengers to enter and leave the vehicle. Reads installation maps and judges road/traffic conditions to determine the shortest and safest route.

Provides friendly, polite, and courteous service. Enforces passenger safety and seatbelt use. Checks I.D. cards to ensure authorization of passengers as required.

Operates vehicles over roads and streets through various types of traffic and possible weather conditions.

Operates special purpose vehicles equipped with special purpose equipment and levers, buttons, pedals, and control equipment (e.g., wheelchair lifts).

Makes trip to medical facilities, homes, railway, bus stations and airport. Loads and unloads patients, medical supplies. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, including weekends, Rotating Schedule. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved