Lead Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical)

Summary
The Lead Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) provides direct leadership to a team of Telehealth Clinical Technicians as well as leading initiatives designed to improve the delivery of care to Veterans using telehealth. The incumbent provides high level support, training, and advanced management of telehealth operations and is typically stationed at a clinical care delivery site; with duties that may require travel. This is located in Bakersfield, CA.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
Current, Permanent, VISN 22 employees of the Veterans Health Administration and CTAP only. First consideration will be giving to Greater Los Angeles employees then CTAP and VISN 22 employees.
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Duties
Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

• Leading a team of telehealth staff by providing guidance and technical direction relating to the telehealth program.
• Working with the supervisor to develop assignments for team members in order to meet routine and unusual deadlines and priorities.
• Distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow and/or job specialization and required rotations.
• Serving as the work leader, monitors the status and progress of team members' work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities;- giving on-the-job training to new employees (local and at the CBOC sites).
• Instructing employees in specific tasks and job techniques, making available written instructions and reference materials for use by team members in the accomplishment of tasks or projects.
• Monitoring and reporting on the status and progress of work to ensure that the supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines and quality have been met.
• Providing information to the supervisor concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of outstanding performance, and personnel needs.
• Reporting to the supervisor on training needs of employees and conduct or performance issues.
• Resolving simple, informal complaints of employees and referring others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official.
• Using a needs assessment, service agreements and other tools, collaborating with stakeholders to develop new programs and processes to ensure telehealth programs are meeting the strategic plans of the healthcare system.
• Identifying and recommending ways of eliminating, combining, simplifying procedures and processes of the telehealth program.
• Supporting efforts to effect necessary change.
• Independently reviewing quality and performance data (e.g. patient satisfaction surveys, image quality, performance metrics, clinic wait times) for Telehealth programs effectiveness and satisfaction and developing process improvements as required.
• Coordinating with vendors, Biomed and IT to upgrade and or replace Telehealth technologies to minimize impact on patient care.
• Developing and coordinating a wide variety of standard operating procedures with full and complete technical advice to ensure telehealth operations are timely, efficient, and appropriate.
• Providing standardized developed competency based training for telehealth technology, facilitating interactive simulations for clinical staff participating in telehealth programs.
• Obtaining and maintaining national certification and serving as a Telehealth Preceptor to independently plan and carry out standardized developed training in accordance with established telehealth program policies and directives.
• Conducting reviews to ensure technologies and systems are functioning prior to training and that trainees have completed prerequisites. Evaluating skills and competencies for initial certification and on-going performance evaluation.
• Providing remedial training as needed and reports to supervisor regarding ongoing performance.
• Maintain knowledge of current standard practices.
• Gathering, compiling and analyzing data and statistics to develop integrated reports designed to assess impact, demand and utilization of Telehealth services for submission to facility and Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) leadership.
• Maintaining responsibility for facility inventory management and registering and maintaining telehealth end points and scheduling of multi-point video conference calls in the Telepresence Management System or other similar application.
• Leading performance improvement activities aimed at improving the efficiency of the patient telehealth processes.
• Developing reporting procedures, sampling techniques and measurements at various points in the telehealth processes to identify/analyze inherent weaknesses in work and procedures and advises others as to trends in the processes of patient telehealth services.
• Coordinating clinic set up and monitoring of workload capture and issues for all telehealth clinics and sites, to include interfacility workload.
• Supporting designated, complex telehealth programs that require advanced technical skillsets.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630
Compressed/Flexible: Not applicable
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• 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
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education. (1) Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical assistant (or technician) or Health Technician. OR (2) Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
• Examples are listed below:
• (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as, biological science, surgical technician courses, nursing assistant or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field; or
• (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, or medical service specialists given by the U.S. Armed Forces.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
GS-08
Grade Determinations:
Experience for the GS-08 one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.
(a) Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance, plan, organize and coordinate activities of a Health Technician (Telehealth Clinical) in order to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload, monitoring the status and progress of work, monitoring accuracy of work.
(b) Skill in leadership and interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with employees, team leaders, providers, and managers.
(c) Ability to communicate effectively in order to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
(d) Knowledge of quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement.
(e) Skill in the assessment and resolution of complex workload capture issues using multiple data sources.
(f) Ability to develop and compose complex written instructions. (g) Knowledge of analytical and evaluative processes to independently resolve complex issues.
Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Medical Terminology; Understanding of Basic Clinical Operations; Experience working in a Virtual Care/Tele-health setting preferred.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/96, PART II, APPENDIX G50, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.
Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The incumbent may be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites and possession of a valid driver's license may be required.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
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.
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.
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  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.
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