Patient Relations Assistant (Customer Service Ambassador/Patient Transporter) Job in San Francisco, CA

Vacancy No. CBSW-12537199-24-BV Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $49,262.00 to $64,037.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/20/2024 Close Date 9/30/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Francisco, CA


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position serves as the Customer Service Ambassador/Patient Transporter, assigned to the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) Service at the San Francisco VA Healthcare System (SFVAHCS). Incumbent carries out the duties and responsibilities as directed by the Supervisor in the day-to-day Customer Service/Patient Transport Program operations, ensuring all patients and visitors have the best and safest possible experience while at SFVAHCS.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Major duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assists all veterans, patients, visitors and internal customers in outpatient clinics, inpatient wards, and administrative offices with forward greeting and wayfinding.
  • Transports patients via wheelchairs, gurneys, and people mover cart in a safe and timely manner to appointments and testing throughout the hospital.
  • Shuttling patients and visitors between facility buildings and parking lots in people mover cart.
  • Identifying emergent situation and responding appropriately.
  • Dispatching requests from internal and external customers; and acting as information receptionists for CDCE and Veteran Service Officers.
  • Respond to dispatch requests from all clinical and administrative offices to include patient, specimen, medication, and morgue transport requests.
  • Responds to questions and concerns by providing clear answers and/or escorting individuals to the information desk.
  • Actively seek out patients and visitors in need of assistance by maintaining situational awareness, identifying those who may look lost, confused or in need of assistance.
  • Responds to dispatch requests from all from clinics, wards, administrative offices and patients or visitors via telephone, radio, and other electronic communication systems.
  • Respond to emergent situations by taking appropriate actions and calling emergency codes as necessary.
  • Knowledge of VA, SFVAHCS, and CDCE Services, policies, and procedures.
  • Navigating Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Veterans Integrated System Technology Architecture (VISTA) to identify patient appointment and inpatient admission information.
  • Assist with light grounds keeping, monument cleaning and flag replacement in preparation of holidays and onsite events.
  • Assist with other administrative and logistical support as assigned.
  • Assist with any other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (07:30am- 04:00pm, and 08:00am- 04:30pm)
Position Description Title/PD#: Patient Relations Assistant (Customer Service Ambassador/Patient Transporter)/PD03110A
Physical Requirements: The regular and recurring work of the position involves prolonged standing, extensive walking, bending, lifting, patient transfers, carrying items such as walkers and equipment, pushing wheelchairs and gurneys, and driving people mover shuttle cart. Occasional working parties involving loading and unloading of donations, supplies & equipment for on-site and community events. Occasional use of motor vehicles may be required. Work environment consists of various locations throughout the hospital to include clinics, Emergency Department, inpatient wards, Community Living Center, waiting areas and outdoors environments with exposure to the elements such as parking lots, monuments, sidewalks, and breezeways. Occasional off-site events both indoors and outdoors. The work involves the everyday risks and discomforts typical of these environments.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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

GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service) or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Extensive knowledge and skill in Patient Centered Care; Safe Patient Handling; Patient Safety; Customer Service; Communication; Problem Solving; Conflict Resolution; Prevention & Management of Disruptive Behavior. Knowledge of the major issues, program goals, and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization. Extensive knowledge of the Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients, and other data resources used to impact the patient experience. NOTE: 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.

OR

Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed four (4) years above high school. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

OR

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. 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. Education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.


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.

Education

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.

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.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is 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.

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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Other (1)
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

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.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12537199.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Brenda Villalta
Address
San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.