Summary The Primary Purpose of the Position is to provide direct assistant to the radiologic staff to enhance the care of the patient who is undergoing an x-ray procedure. The position is designed to maximize the use of technical skills of radiologic technologists. Responsibilities Major Duties include, but not limited to: Multi-functional position that provides direct patient care during the exam process and is instrumental in assisting staff radiologists, diagnostic radiology technologists and medical instrument technologists in the performance of their duties. Provides direct patient care by monitoring the health of the patient during their stay in Imaging Service and managing inpatient processed and prepared for exams. Responsible for assisting the radiologist and technologists in performing complex imaging exams, especially during biopsy procedures and all invasive procedures. May be required to assemble or help assemble equipment to be used during various imaging procedures using sterile technique when necessary. Employee will work with all modalities: mammography, CT, MRI, Diagnostic Ultrasound, special procedures and general radiology sections. Must be multi-faceted in knowledge and procedures of each modality to ensure appropriate level of care is administered. Will work in multiple locations throughout Imaging Service. Must be knowledgeable in equipment terminology, contrast (drug) terminology and supply terminology. Responsible for escorting patients throughout the Imaging Service and transporting patients to and from wards when necessary. Escorts patients from the Imaging Service waiting room to a dressing area and, if necessary, helps patients get appropriately dressed for their procedure. Assists patients in getting on and off examination tables if required. If necessary, assists patients to a bathroom following their examination. Helps clean patients in the event of spills and assists patients with changing gowns. Assists the X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, or MRI technologists in cleaning and disinfecting x-ray tables and other equipment after patient use. Assists in monitoring wheelchair and litter bound patients and helps ensure these patient's needs are met while in the Imaging Service. The incumbent informs patients of pre-examination procedures and/or requirements such as NPO, latest period timeframe to take medications or to commence medication(s), proper bowel preparation as ordered, take detailed and complete physical and medical histories on patients as directed. Sets up patients for treatment or tests that may include, but limited to, bloodwork or starting IV. Directs or assists patients to imaging exam room, monitors patients when technologist leaves the exam room. For safe practices, while working in the MRI section, will always be present due to the magnetic field in the MRI suite. Will complete their yearly training requirement on Level 1 MRI Safety Training. Must be ready at all times to prevent an untoward event while the patient is in the scanning room. Performs a variety of clerical and administrative activities including, but not limited to, picking up supplies as needed, retrieval of mammography film jackets from and filing of film jackets to the department film library, preparing appointment/ exam instruction letters for mailing, faxing release of information forms to other medical facilities, filing paper reports in proper film jackets, recognizing and giving priority handling to all emergency patient needs, separating and packaging x-ray films to be sent to the Federal Records Center, if necessary, and rotating current and previous years film files. May be required to receive and register patients. May be required to digitize hard copy films into the CTVHCS Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 3:30pm- 12:00am (midnight), evening shift MRI Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Radiology)/PD04230A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2024. Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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.OR Education and Training: For GS-4: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to work of a Health Technician (Radiology). BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Positions at GS-4 and above require specialized experience, education, or training related to the occupation. Examples of qualifying specialized experience are provided for those occupations where such information is currently available. Examples of qualifying post-high school education or training are also provided. Experience. Have at least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience at the GS-3 grade or equivalent level that gave me the knowledge, skills, abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. General Experience: (l) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying experience includes but may not be limited to: Support duties to medical or health personnel such as radiologists, x-ray technicians or radiologic technologists that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Such as sterile techniques and how to maintain sterile field; digital x-ray equipment; radiation protection standards; different views required for each x-ray examination; understanding of medical terms. Education: 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation of Health Technician (Radiology). NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted, and education must be from an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Experience and Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The combinations described below are those most typical for these positions, i.e., for grades GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (When crediting education, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-04. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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 work requires long periods of standing and walking and recurrent transferring of patients. Lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees, or with patient-moving equipment. There is some bending, lifting and carrying of moderately heavy items such as cassettes and film jackets. Clerical portion of incumbent's work is a combination of sedentary and frequent walking throughout the hospital and outlying buildings. Standing, stooping and bending is required. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information "Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act." Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.