Medical Care Transportation Technician - EMT

English Language Proficiency Requirement: 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 perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS (SCREEN-OUT) - THREE Selective Placement Factors (SPF) have been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPFs are ineligible for further consideration. Must possess a valid/current state issued/certification for eligibility for employment (EMT). (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). Possess a valid state driver's license. (Please DO NOT provide driver's license. We may not accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview). In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factors above, to qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) 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 - EMT. 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 applying skill of body systems (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory) to conduct patient assessments and provide emergency patient medical care; operating emergency vehicles and a variety of emergency/medical equipment, tools, supplies; and using communication techniques and equipment to relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of one (1) full year of graduate education directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (Transcript Required) -OR- COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience, described above, may be used to meet total qualification requirements. (Transcript Required) NOTE: If you qualify based on a combination, your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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/. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The EMT's 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. EMTs may be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection and contagious diseases, is required to work in all types of weather and traffic conditions and faces risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes, dangerous substances, cuts, bruises, etc., requiring the EMT to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. Work may also expose the EMT to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior. The Medical Care Transportation Technician - EMT positions are assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Transportation Services (VTS), Ambulance Service, in one of the various VA Medical Center (VAMC) locations, with an emergency room, acute care or urgent care clinic, or other similar departments performing basic life support procedures. These positions are located at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine.