Summary

This Medical Care Transportation Technician (Paramedic) position is assigned to the Togus VA Medical Center - Augusta - Maine - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Veterans Transportation Services (VTS) - Ambulance Service.

Qualifications

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 meet the requirements of this position. This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factors for this position are: Screen-out: Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. Possess this certification. (Certifications required to receive credit for further consideration). Must upload certification. Screen-out: Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic must possess and maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Certification. Possess this certification. (Certifications required to receive credit for further consideration). Must upload certification. Screen-out: Medical Care Transportation Technician - Paramedic must possess a valid/current state issued/certification for eligibility for employment (Paramedic). Possess this certification (Certifications required to receive credit for further consideration). Must upload certification. Screen-out: Possess a valid state driver's license. (Do NOT provide driver's license. We may not accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview). Do NOT upload. In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factors above - to qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level - you must meet one of the following qualification requirements. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Possess at least (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-08) in the Federal Service - that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Medical Care Transportation Technician -Paramedic. 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. Specialized experience includes knowledge of a majority of body systems - i.e. - skeletal - muscular - nervous - respiratory - circulatory - digestive - and genitourinary - to perform patient examination; responding to accidents and other emergencies involving injury and/or illness which may be life-threatening and require basic life support procedures; experience providing transportation of patients to medical treatment facilities; using communication equipment and techniques to accurately obtain and relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers; knowledge of protocols and treatments used in the delivery of emergency care for persons injured in chemical - nuclear - biological - and hazardous materials incidents; and experience operating emergency or patient transport vehicles. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess a successfully completed two (2) full years of graduate education or a Master's degree directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate education (in excess of one year) and experience - described above - to meet total qualification requirements. Physical Requirements: The Paramedics work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally - the work requires recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - and positioning of patients - frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. Paramedics may be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical - nuclear - biological - or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. 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/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major Duties: Responds to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses - sometimes encountering situations which may be life threatening
• Determines and prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance and performs patient triage and take/records patient's vital signs as needed
• Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history - assesses status of patient's neurological system - cardiovascular system - circulatory system - skeletal system - orthopedic system - motor and sensory skills - and level of consciousness
• Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions per established procedures or as authorized/directed by physicians
• Responds to cardiac and respiratory emergencies - performs cardiac monitoring and defibrillation
• maintains circulation controls bleeding and provides spinal management and immobilization
• Prioritizes treatments for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of advanced emergency medicine techniques - methods - and equipment during transport to the appropriate medical facility
• Provides fluid resuscitation by intravenous line (IV) and manages trauma injuries - bleeding - and post-traumatic shock
• Operates various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment - tools and supplies which may include ambulance - extrication tools - blood pressure cuff - cardiac monitor - glucose monitor - defibrillator - endotracheal tube - external pacing device etc
• Performs all duties as assigned
• Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received
• Work Schedule: Rotating 12 hour shifts to include nights and weekends Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized