Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Laboratory Support

• Responsible for initiating and carrying out a variety of administrative, laboratory and echocardiogram duties in support of patient examinations in the Primary Care Clinic and CBOCs.
• The incumbent provides and performs administrative, venipuncture and echocardiograms in coordination of patient examinations and advise the professional staff on administrative order request for venipuncture. Ensures all orders for venipuncture and EKG's are completed.
• Performs standard diagnostic tests or procedures such as electrocardiograms, attaching electrodes to chest area of patient for testing results transmission, venipuncture for collection of blood specimen, according to written protocol or as directed by the physician or other professional staff.
• Aware of the appropriate needle based on patient's physical characteristics and the amount of blood to be drawn. Incumbent is responsible for accurate labeling and packaging of samples for transport to facility lab.
• Relays telephonic, e-mail and face to face messages to team members. Analyzes situations to determine what decisions can be made or if advice of a higher authority is needed, especially for problems that may involve public relations. Receives and reviews new lab and EKG orders. Complete orders the day of patients schedule Primary Care Clinic and CBOC appointment.

Administrative Support

• The incumbent obtains all key information needed and initiates administrative processing of physician orders in a timely manner. All key information must be acquired before treatment orders are entered. This includes but is not limited to: ordering of diagnostic tests, labs, requesting medical records from other facilities, etc. Assures that patients are comfortable and treated courteously, enthusiastically and in a timely manner.
• The incumbent receives and reviews new requests. Coordinates with team members to assure that patients are seen in a timely manner.
• The incumbent ensures that the Provider is aware of clinic schedules and coordinates with team members for patients to be seen in a timely manner. Ensures maximum utilization of available provider appointment times. Coordinates consultations and referrals of patients to other specialty services.
• The incumbent will analyze, interpret and implement regulations accurately to reflect current operating procedures and is familiar with procedures concerning changes in regulations or policies. Maintains and understands standard medical terminology and abbreviations.
• Acquires and maintains computer literacy and knowledge of all computer packages which are used to support patient care and required to perform duties. Obtains clinical information from clinicians such as laboratory, radiology and other reports from VISTA/CPRS.
• Completes order entries into CPRS daily to assure proper workload credit and statistical information is maintained for the Medical Center.
• Acts in the capacity of liaison between patients, team members as well as specialty and ancillary services. Provides information and technical support on availability of services, points of contact and necessary authorizations and approvals.
• Communicates effectively with people from diverse cultural, educational, and organizational backgrounds within and outside the Primary Care Clinic and CBOCs. Works and communicates effectively with all health care team members, peers, patients and significant others.
• Actively participates in team efforts and staff meetings. Looks for delays in processing or problems in providing care and will recommend action to resolve these problems. The incumbent will listens to all customer/patient feedback, positive and negative, acts to resolve complaints within his or her control, and reports feedback to management (or team leader) in a timely manner.
• Complies with all OSHA safety/fire prevention rules/regulations, using protective equipment where required. Promptly reports all accidents and notifies supervisor of unsafe or unhealthy conditions in the workplace.
• The incumbent is responsible for work area fire drill and emergency plans to include location of all emergency equipment. Initiates appropriate procedures in emergency situations. Initiates code situations. Directs responding personnel.
• Responsible for ordering and maintains office supplies. Reports broken/unsafe equipment and removes all hazardous items from use and enters electronic work order requests as necessary. Attends scheduled training sessions and participates in facility or service level safety promotions as directed by supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm
Telework: Not Suitable for Telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (EKG)- Savannah/PD07486A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

Individual Occupation Requirements: These requirements are specific to the job series and define the basic qualifications that candidates must meet to be eligible for this particular position.

• Specialized Experience: 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: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirements, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

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-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: practical knowledge of standard procedures using any one of several technical procedures; skill in the operation and use of specialized equipment and materials under the supervision of a staff therapist; knowledge to handle problems and deviations in work assignments in accordance with standard practices and written procedures; knowledge to work independently in carrying out routine assignments after learning the priorities concerning the categories of assignment. OR,
• Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the 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 the first 60 semester hours.

Preferred Experience:
2-3 years phlebotomy experience
1-3 years outpatient/specialty clinic experience
2-3 years LPN experience
EKG experience
Experience in Point of Care (POC) testing

Physical Demands
The work is performed in a Primary Care Service Line Clinical area. This includes a variety of potential extended periods of sitting, walking, standing, carrying of items weighing up to 20 pounds. In general the work does not require special physical demands.

Work Environment
The work is performed in outpatient/lab care settings of the Medical Center. The environment involves risks which require normal safety precautions. The employee works in a health care facility where exposure to contagious disease and carcinogenic materials exists. Additionally, this involves the risk of assault by patients who may be mentally impaired. Features of this environment include varying patient populations that range from minimal acuity to critically ill.


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-05. 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.


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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:


USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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