Total 18 job vacancies by Veterans Health Administration

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties

1. Using state of the art equipment the incumbent obtains polysomnograms on patients with life threatening sleep disorders. The incumbent obtains multiple sleep latency tests on patients with possible narcolepsy or other disorders of excess sleepiness. All of the testing performed requires on line analysis by the technologist to obtain the necessary data for correct diagnosis and therapy for the patient. The incumbent must make decisions about therapy in the case of patients with sleep apnea who are undergoing split night studies. This requires both obtaining studies that are representative and making decisions during the study if the patient is appropriate that night to undergo therapy, and determining that the therapy is optimal.
2. The incumbent is able to stage and score sleep studies.
3. The incumbent is comfortable with troubleshooting CPAP equipment and assisting in the optimization of this treatment in patients already on CPAP or BiPAP or variants.
4. The incumbent assists in the education of students (medical students, polysomnography students) and residents and fellows.
5. Based on experience and knowledge the incumbent provides oxygen therapy, and or nasal CPAP and or nasal BiPAP and or nasal autopap therapy, determining the proper levels to be administered.
6. The incumbent is able to determine the appropriate settings of BiPAP ST as well as Servopap. The incumbent recognizes various cardiac arrythmias and independently decides when to call for professional intervention. The incumbent recognizes and describes seizures and other behavior during the sleep study that may require intervention.
7. The incumbent is able to utilize the sophisticated equipment to obtain studies with an extended montage to allow for seizure monitoring. This is performed much more frequently than in most other labs and speaks to the complexity of our referred patients.
8. The incumbent is also able to utilize the more limited equipment that allows monitoring of respiratory parameters in sleep.
9. The incumbent maintains the guidelines on infection control for our laboratory and interfaces with manufacturers to determine appropriate specifications and with our infectious control group and SPD to insure that we are following safe and appropriate procedures. The incumbent disseminates this information on a regular basis to other staff via in-service presentations and informal teaching to make sure guidelines are followed.
10. Teaching - the technologist will assist in teaching new technologists on use of equipment and newer techniques and insure that they are proficient in these techniques.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each completed authorization form. Screen each request for information to determine urgency and assure that most urgent requests are completed first using established priority systems. Personally greet veterans/visitors and assist them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released.
• Apply public laws, rules, regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical record, including the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act and 38 U.S.C. 7332 governing the release of records containing information regarding the treatment of or referral for drug and/or alcohol abuse, Sickle Cell Anemia and infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• Process all incoming requests to the facility for Release of Information (ROI) along with information required by the VA Regional Office through the Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE), referring only problem cases to the Supervisor.
• Evaluate validity of each request. Determine which information is to be released in compliance with existing laws (Privacy Act of 1974, Freedom of Information Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Ensure that proper authorization exists before release is made. Process the request to the requesting agency or individual. Input all requests into the ROI computer package for logging and tracking of these requests.
• Receive and direct callers and visitors. Receive and/or give out forms and assist visitors and/or callers with the completion of forms or documents. Respond to questions from patients concerning services. Provide advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information.
• Search records or files to compose responses, including electronic searches to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data. Locate materials that would verify information given. Review paper and computerized health records (i.e., scanned notes, reports, special tests, etc.) to identify material to be photocopied/printed/written to electronic media and released.
• Compos responses to routine requests for release of patient information. Select and compile information from health records and prepare correspondence, typically using standard form or standard formats for letters. Ensure the information released is limited to what is specifically authorized and to the person or agency designated to receive it.
• Compose detailed explanations in response to correspondence received, arranging information into logical sequence and appropriate format and choosing appropriate words and expressions to convey the desired tone. Determine extent and tone of replies independently.
• Resolve conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests. This involves dealing with patients and/or third parties to resolve discrepancies, sorting out errors and reconstructing past transactions, cases or events, or finding alternative sources of information.
• Reply to vague, incomplete, or ambiguous inquires by independently recognizing issues, topics or problems. Inquiries are usually presented by patients or third parties who are not sure what information they are looking for or do not know how to identify it by title. Find alternative sources of information on which to base a reply when correspondent has provided sketchy or inaccurate information.
• Process Social Security requests for health information using ROI software. Download VistA Imaging documents and ROI software documents onto a secure Network Drive. Access the secured Social Security Web page and upload the documents to the Web portal. Transfer the confirmation codes to the ROI software package and close the requests in both the ROI and Social Security packages.
• Complete and process routine releases of information to other VA and Federal Agencies and when requested, to patients and their families, insurance representatives, physicians, hospitals, and city and state health agencies according to VA directives. Processing must be accomplished within established time standards. Accurately enter all requests into the ROI software with necessary information for each request for health information. Complete necessary transactions for deposit of money collected from subpoenas, legal fees, and processing fees for release of information to individuals and insurance companies.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for evaluating the adequacy of each completed authorization form. Screen each request for information to determine urgency and assure that most urgent requests are completed first using established priority systems. Personally greet veterans/visitors and assist them in determining the exact nature of the request and whether the information requested can be released.
• Apply public laws, rules, regulations and exclusions governing confidentiality of the medical record, including the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act and 38 U.S.C. 7332 governing the release of records containing information regarding the treatment of or referral for drug and/or alcohol abuse, Sickle Cell Anemia and infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• Process all incoming requests to the facility for Release of Information (ROI) along with information required by the VA Regional Office through the Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE), referring only problem cases to the Supervisor.
• Evaluate validity of each request. Determine which information is to be released in compliance with existing laws (Privacy Act of 1974, Freedom of Information Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Ensure that proper authorization exists before release is made. Process the request to the requesting agency or individual. Input all requests into the ROI computer package for logging and tracking of these requests.
• Receive and direct callers and visitors. Receive and/or give out forms and assist visitors and/or callers with the completion of forms or documents. Respond to questions from patients concerning services. Provide advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information.
• Search records or files to compose responses, including electronic searches to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data. Locate materials that would verify information given. Review paper and computerized health records (i.e., scanned notes, reports, special tests, etc.) to identify material to be photocopied/printed/written to electronic media and released.
• Compos responses to routine requests for release of patient information. Select and compile information from health records and prepare correspondence, typically using standard form or standard formats for letters. Ensure the information released is limited to what is specifically authorized and to the person or agency designated to receive it.
• Compose detailed explanations in response to correspondence received, arranging information into logical sequence and appropriate format and choosing appropriate words and expressions to convey the desired tone. Determine extent and tone of replies independently.
• Resolve conflicting or inconsistent information found on initial requests. This involves dealing with patients and/or third parties to resolve discrepancies, sorting out errors and reconstructing past transactions, cases or events, or finding alternative sources of information.
• Reply to vague, incomplete, or ambiguous inquires by independently recognizing issues, topics or problems. Inquiries are usually presented by patients or third parties who are not sure what information they are looking for or do not know how to identify it by title. Find alternative sources of information on which to base a reply when correspondent has provided sketchy or inaccurate information.
• Process Social Security requests for health information using ROI software. Download VistA Imaging documents and ROI software documents onto a secure Network Drive. Access the secured Social Security Web page and upload the documents to the Web portal. Transfer the confirmation codes to the ROI software package and close the requests in both the ROI and Social Security packages.
• Complete and process routine releases of information to other VA and Federal Agencies and when requested, to patients and their families, insurance representatives, physicians, hospitals, and city and state health agencies according to VA directives. Processing must be accomplished within established time standards. Accurately enter all requests into the ROI software with necessary information for each request for health information. Complete necessary transactions for deposit of money collected from subpoenas, legal fees, and processing fees for release of information to individuals and insurance companies.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Duties:
1. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, determines proper amount, and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations.
2. For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary.
3. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required.
4. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.
5. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution procedures and timeframes for delivery.
6. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
7. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams, continually seeks to improve services.
8. Ensures all look alike, sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement.
9. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items.
10. Maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned.
11. Provides training and mentorship to new or existing staff.
12. Assists with monitoring refrigerator temperatures daily in pharmacy service by following up on alerts from the automated temperature monitoring system and relocating medications when refrigerators are out of service.
13. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies.
14. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required.
15. Understands requirements of USP 795, USP 797, USP 800, disposal of hazardous materials, safe medication distribution and electronic prescription processing.
16. Assists inpatient Pharmacists with filling and delivering of new medication orders and/or missing dose reports in a timely manner to ensure appropriate patient care.
17. Complete all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Varies Based on Position

• • Inpatient Pharmacy Technician: Monday - Friday, 0800-1630. May be required to work some weekends and holidays based on coverage needs.
  • Inpatient Pharmacy Technicians - Sterile Compounding: 7on/7off, Monday-Friday, 0600-1830, Saturday-Sunday, 0600-1630.
  • Inpatient Pharmacy Technicians - ADM: Monday-Friday, 0700-1530 or 7on/7off, Monday-Thursday, 0830-2000, Friday-Sunday, 0830-2100

• May be required to work extra weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages. Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's needs.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Duties:
1. Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, determines proper amount, and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations.
2. For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary.
3. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required.
4. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.
5. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution procedures and timeframes for delivery.
6. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
7. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams, continually seeks to improve services.
8. Ensures all look alike, sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement.
9. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items.
10. Maintains a training/education manual for the focus area assigned.
11. Provides training and mentorship to new or existing staff.
12. Assists with monitoring refrigerator temperatures daily in pharmacy service by following up on alerts from the automated temperature monitoring system and relocating medications when refrigerators are out of service.
13. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies.
14. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required.
15. Understands requirements of USP 795, USP 797, USP 800, disposal of hazardous materials, safe medication distribution and electronic prescription processing.
16. Assists inpatient Pharmacists with filling and delivering of new medication orders and/or missing dose reports in a timely manner to ensure appropriate patient care.
17. Complete all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Varies Based on Position

• • Inpatient Pharmacy Technician: Monday - Friday, 0800-1630. May be required to work some weekends and holidays based on coverage needs.
  • Inpatient Pharmacy Technicians - Sterile Compounding: 7on/7off, Monday-Friday, 0600-1830, Saturday-Sunday, 0600-1630.
  • Inpatient Pharmacy Technicians - ADM: Monday-Friday, 0700-1530 or 7on/7off, Monday-Thursday, 0830-2000, Friday-Sunday, 0830-2100

• May be required to work extra weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages. Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's needs.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Major duties and responsibilities will include:

• Follows procedures for patient identification, sample procurement, and specimen labeling
• Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients
• Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container
• Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained
• Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques
• Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting and aliquoting, etc.
• Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures
• Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel
• Performs standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time, occult blood, urine dipstick, pregnancy test, fingerstick glucose
• Performs sterilization on the autoclave, and cleans glassware and other reusable items
• Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and arrests
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

All duties of the Clinical Pharmacy Technician will be performed under the direct supervision of the assigned CPP/CP. All clinical decision making will first be reviewed by the CPP/CP. All assigned clinical activities and function shall be completed in accordance with approved clinical pharmacy protocols or procedures: Assigned activities include but not limited to:

A. Anticoagulation Clinic Support:
1. Performs medication reconciliation to include reviewing medication history, changes (including herbals, dietary supplements, and over-the-counter medications), adherence, and complications of therapy and report findings to CPP/CP.
2. Obtains and assess information on compliance, medication dosages, medication changes, alcohol consumption, smoking, bleeding symptoms, dietary habits, and general state of health. The information obtained will then be communicated to the CPS/CP.
3. Assess patient compliance and attains renewals for Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs).
4. Routinely monitors laboratory data as appropriate (to include, but not limited to CBC, UA, Creatinine, INR, A1C, CMP, FLP) and assist with scheduling future lab orders and follow up appointments.
5. Prints daily schedules and "no shows/lost to follow up" reports. Review both reports and patients' electronic health record (EHR) to identify which patients have and have not been followed up within the last 60 days.
6. Telephone support involves appointment reminders, rescheduling patients who have missed appointments, phone interviews of patients who have obtained INRs from outside labs, and triaging incoming phone calls from patients, their family members or other health providers.
7. Completes electronic progress notes, reviews all encounters daily, and notify CPP for completion.

B. Medication Management:
1. Interviews patients, family members and/or caregivers, to develop an accurate list of medications, drug strengths, dosages, routes, and instructions the patient has been taking.
2. Obtains relevant patient information from patient interviews, assisted living facilities (ALF's), and nursing homes using joint legacy viewer (JLV) with our department of defense (DOD) partners.
3. Compares the compiled list with the active medication profile in the computerized medical record of the patient.
4. Documents the compiled list in the electronic health record, noting any discrepancies or omissions within 24 hours of patient encounter.
5. Updates and clarifies allergy information in patient's records in an electronic health record (EHR)
6. Improves medication safety by collecting up-to-date and prior-to admission medication lists for patients admitted to the hospital.

C. Hospital Discharges:
1. Assists with reviewing the provider discharge medication reconciliation note and notifies the pharmacist of discrepancies that need to be addressed with the provider.
2. Prepares Pharmacy Home Medication List after discharge medications have been processed by the Pharmacist and makes an addendum to the Provider's note stating the medication changes that occurred at the time of discharge.
3. Prepares discharge medications for prescription/order (s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. May be required to work weekends and holidays during periods of staffing shortages if needed. Tour of duty is subject to change based on agency's need.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55862F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Duties will vary based on grade. At the GS-7 full performance level, the incumbent is responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during GI procedures such as: anoscopy, argon plasma cautery, colonoscopy, cytology, digestive tract biopsies, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), enteroscopy, esophageal biopsy, esophageal dilation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), liver biopsy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), pH/Manometry Studies, polypectomies, and sigmoidoscopy. Duties will include:

• Prepares procedural rooms for the performance of GI procedures.
• Sets up GI procedure rooms with all required items for each procedure such as video equipment, endoscopes, endoscope flushing system, image management systems ERCP equipment, Fluoroscopy/x-ray, EUS equipment, computers and monitors, cautery units, and reprocessing equipment.
• Prepares and processes Semi Critical and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with appropriate Standard Operating Procedures.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with the GI team professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the GI procedures.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex GI endoscopes.
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the GI procedures and anticipates the needs of the physician and/or registered nurse by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment, as well as follows all RME reprocessing protocol for high level of disinfection.
• Assists the GI Team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Applies various monitoring equipment, i.e., BP cuff, pulse oximetry probe, ecg leads, etc., when assisting with patient procedure preparation.
• Transports non-sedated patients to/from Admit/Recovery rooms via gurney or wheelchair.
• Handles all GI specimens appropriately.
• Responsible for the accountability for all GI instruments and equipment during the procedure.
• Assists the physician, and/or registered nurse with instrumentation necessary to perform the required procedure and treatment such as obtaining biopsies, brushings, performing polypectomies, inflation of balloon dilators, and injection of contrast solutions, approved medications, or medical devices during GI procedures.
• Prepares diagnostic biopsy specimens, assessing the adequacy of each, and placing in appropriate specimen bottle with appropriate labeling to meet pathology laboratory specifications during procedures.
• Assists in training medical and surgical residents, medical students, nursing students, GI Fellows, and new GI Team staff in the operation of equipment, proper techniques, handling of instruments, and GI procedures to include the assistant role for invasive procedures.
• Works closely with SPS, HTM, hospital inpatient wards, operating room, pharmacy, and clerical staff to accomplish the goals of the GI Endoscopy Unit.
• Notifies outpatients of their upcoming GI procedure and instructs them on the correct preparation for their procedure.
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
• Maintains GI Endoscopy area.
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials.
• Identifies equipment needing preventive maintenance or repair and takes appropriate action.
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (i.e., frayed cords, water on floor, etc.), and takes corrective action.
• Provides guidance, education, and support to GI staff, patients, and other MITs.
• Supervises volunteers, Incentive Therapy participants, aides, non-clinical team members, students, and other personnel.
• Provides guidance and support to professionals, and technical students of an approved GI technology program.
• Assists GI Team members in quality improvement activities.
• Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in GI procedural technology through continuing education courses.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
The incumbent is responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during GI procedures such as: anoscopy, argon plasma cautery, colonoscopy, cytology, digestive tract biopsies, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), enteroscopy, esophageal biopsy, esophageal dilation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), liver biopsy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), pH/Manometry Studies, polypectomies, and sigmoidoscopy. Duties will include:

• Prepares procedural rooms for the performance of GI procedures.
• Sets up GI procedure rooms with all required items for each procedure such as video equipment, endoscopes, endoscope flushing system, image management systems ERCP equipment, Fluoroscopy/x-ray, EUS equipment, computers and monitors, cautery units, and reprocessing equipment.
• Prepares and processes Semi Critical and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with appropriate Standard Operating Procedures.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with the GI team professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the GI procedures.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex GI endoscopes.
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the GI procedures and anticipates the needs of the physician and/or registered nurse by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment, as well as follows all RME reprocessing protocol for high level of disinfection.
• Assists the GI Team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Applies various monitoring equipment, i.e., BP cuff, pulse oximetry probe, ecg leads, etc., when assisting with patient procedure preparation.
• Transports non-sedated patients to/from Admit/Recovery rooms via gurney or wheelchair.
• Handles all GI specimens appropriately.
• Responsible for the accountability for all GI instruments and equipment during the procedure.
• Assists the physician, and/or registered nurse with instrumentation necessary to perform the required procedure and treatment such as obtaining biopsies, brushings, performing polypectomies, inflation of balloon dilators, and injection of contrast solutions, approved medications, or medical devices during GI procedures.
• Prepares diagnostic biopsy specimens, assessing the adequacy of each, and placing in appropriate specimen bottle with appropriate labeling to meet pathology laboratory specifications during procedures.
• Assists in training medical and surgical residents, medical students, nursing students, GI Fellows, and new GI Team staff in the operation of equipment, proper techniques, handling of instruments, and GI procedures to include the assistant role for invasive procedures.
• Works closely with SPS, HTM, hospital inpatient wards, operating room, pharmacy, and clerical staff to accomplish the goals of the GI Endoscopy Unit.
• Notifies outpatients of their upcoming GI procedure and instructs them on the correct preparation for their procedure.
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials.
• Identifies equipment needing preventive maintenance or repair and takes appropriate action.
• Provides guidance, education, and support to GI staff, patients, and other MITs.
• Supervises volunteers, Incentive Therapy participants, aides, non-clinical team members, students, and other personnel.
• Provides guidance and support to professionals, and technical students of an approved GI technology program.

This position serves as the Lead Supply Technician (Medical) for the Medical Supply Distribution (MSD) areas of Logistics Service within the VA Medical Center in Vancouver Washington and its catchment areas. As a Lead Supply Technician, you will ensure supplies and materials are distributed to all areas serviced by Logistics to provide wards, clinics, operating rooms, secondary storage locations, and other hospital facilities with supplies and material including but not limited to, sterile and non-sterile medical supplies, instrument sets, and equipment. Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Distributing and balancing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization and assures timely accomplishment of assigned workload;
• Monitoring status and progress of work and makes day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities;
• Maintaining current knowledge and answers questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, or other guidelines as necessary and obtains needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems;
• Maintaining stock at primary and secondary inventory locations for all clinical and administrative services, including pulling stock inventory and material from inventory for delivery, replenishing stock inventory, interacting with customers to resolve issues, maintaining records on stock levels, etc.;
• Performing inventory using barcode equipment and resolving differences between records and physical count of stock;
• Ensuring areas are cleaned in accordance with aseptic principles as published in infection control guidelines, local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Joint Commission standards as scheduled;
• Receiving supplies and materials into the catchment area including unpacking/uncrating supplies from shipping cartons; storing supplies and materials; and ensuring sterility and integrity of the supplies and material as well as the data integrity of the inventory management system; and
• Working with clinical and administrative customers as well as outside vendors with tact and diplomacy to coordinate work activities and resolve operating issues pertaining to supply management requirements.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Functions or Scope:

• Enhances Pharmacy quality improvement/quality control by participating in process action teams, reporting medication errors, and continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers.
• Compounds oral non-sterile medications; calculates and converts to proper weights and measures to assure accurate manufacture of final product; performs record keeping for compounding activities.
• Have strong customer service skills and be able to assist patients over the telephone and the window
• Provide clinic support through appointment scheduling, faxing and mailing, preparation of teaching materials, and filing
• Schedule and link clinic consults to enrollment appointments for new patients in the anticoagulation clinic
• Schedules clinic follow-up appointments
• Utilize and maintains the Recall Reminder, Electronic Waiting, and Veteran Choice
• Maintains a working knowledge of scheduling and anticoagulation directives and terminology.
• Provide patient education on pharmacy topics
• Evaluate and analyze the workflow to coordinate activities in support of clinical pharmacy specialists
• Understand and apply Medical Center policies and procedures
• Interact directly with patients and family members to support clinic activities
• Communicate effectively with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, schedulers, and other healthcare personnel
• Receive and triage lab results faxed from the community
• Triage clinical telephone calls
• Document communication with patients in CPRS
• Notify pharmacist of issues related to prescription duplication, medication compliance, allergies or adverse reactions, and INR's out of therapeutic range which are identified through patient communication or medical record review
• Notify pharmacist when complications related to anticoagulation therapy are identified
• Monitor clinic records for patients who fail to show for scheduled appointments and initiate reminders to ensure continuum of care
• Evaluate and analyze data from clinic databases to generate periodic quality assessment reports
• Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory and ensures documentation into the VistA controlled substance package.
• Prepares and fills controlled substance outpatient orders from the central pharmacy vault utilizing the VistA controlled substances software and automated dispensing equipment.
• Independently conducts 72-hour, ATC, and biennial inventories.
• Participates and interacts with the Controlled Substance Inspectors when conducting the monthly-unannounced inventory. Prepares report for Pharmacy Supervisor and Controlled Substance Coordinator when discrepancies are identified.
• Analyses discrepancies to determine root causes and determines appropriate corrective action following established standard operating procedures.
• Prepares controlled substances for destruction, documents such activities in the VistA controlled substance package and interacts with contracted services to effect destruction.
• Independently provides controlled substance training for technicians, pharmacists, and inspectors; provides information to pharmacists and other pharmacy technicians regarding status of controlled substance medication orders.

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

Functions or Scope:

• Enhances Pharmacy quality improvement/quality control by participating in process action teams, reporting medication errors, and continually seeking ways to improve the service provided to patients and other customers.
• Compounds oral non-sterile medications; calculates and converts to proper weights and measures to assure accurate manufacture of final product; performs record keeping for compounding activities.
• Have strong customer service skills and be able to assist patients over the telephone and the window
• Provide clinic support through appointment scheduling, faxing and mailing, preparation of teaching materials, and filing
• Schedule and link clinic consults to enrollment appointments for new patients in the anticoagulation clinic
• Schedules clinic follow-up appointments
• Utilize and maintains the Recall Reminder, Electronic Waiting, and Veteran Choice
• Maintains a working knowledge of scheduling and anticoagulation directives and terminology.
• Provide patient education on pharmacy topics
• Evaluate and analyze the workflow to coordinate activities in support of clinical pharmacy specialists
• Understand and apply Medical Center policies and procedures
• Interact directly with patients and family members to support clinic activities
• Communicate effectively with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, schedulers, and other healthcare personnel
• Receive and triage lab results faxed from the community
• Triage clinical telephone calls
• Document communication with patients in CPRS
• Notify pharmacist of issues related to prescription duplication, medication compliance, allergies or adverse reactions, and INR's out of therapeutic range which are identified through patient communication or medical record review
• Notify pharmacist when complications related to anticoagulation therapy are identified
• Monitor clinic records for patients who fail to show for scheduled appointments and initiate reminders to ensure continuum of care
• Evaluate and analyze data from clinic databases to generate periodic quality assessment reports
• Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory and ensures documentation into the VistA controlled substance package.
• Prepares and fills controlled substance outpatient orders from the central pharmacy vault utilizing the VistA controlled substances software and automated dispensing equipment.
• Independently conducts 72-hour, ATC, and biennial inventories.
• Participates and interacts with the Controlled Substance Inspectors when conducting the monthly-unannounced inventory. Prepares report for Pharmacy Supervisor and Controlled Substance Coordinator when discrepancies are identified.
• Analyses discrepancies to determine root causes and determines appropriate corrective action following established standard operating procedures.
• Prepares controlled substances for destruction, documents such activities in the VistA controlled substance package and interacts with contracted services to effect destruction.
• Independently provides controlled substance training for technicians, pharmacists, and inspectors; provides information to pharmacists and other pharmacy technicians regarding status of controlled substance medication orders.

This position is located in the Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center, Surgical Care, Optometry & Ophthalmology Clinics. Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

The Supervisory Health Technician (Ophthalmology) is responsible for the supervision, administrative management, direction of ophthalmology staff, and supervises interactions of Health Technicians (Ophthalmology) with affiliate ophthalmology residents. May be delegated full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the ophthalmology staff activities for the service or equivalent unit at an independent outpatient clinic. Has full supervisory responsibility over a section or equivalent work unit. Typical duties include preparing work assignments, monitoring clinical performances of ophthalmology staff, volunteers, and/or students, conducting performance appraisals, and other clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure that the mission of the service and the medical center has been satisfied. Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements, and the quality management program, assuring corrective action is initiated as needed. Assures orientation and competency assessment of assigned staff. Develops policies and procedures; manages document control; develops performance standards, position descriptions and functional statements; and is responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area to include budget execution. Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. May have overall responsibility for planning, assessing, and evaluating programs to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of healthcare within the facility, or coordination of non-VA care as appropriate.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf

The Columbia VA Health Care System is currently recruiting for the position of a Rotational Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy Technicians at this grade level can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. The technician will assist in both outpatient and inpatient Pharmacy areas. Inpatient functions include packaging unit dose medications utilizing unit dose packaging machine, replenishing stock in automated dispensing machines, conducting routine ward inspections, preparing intravenous admixtures, and delivering medications to inpatient wards and outpatient clinics. Outpatient functions include filling and labeling medications for verification by a pharmacist, assisting patients at the pharmacy pick-up window, cleaning and refilling the outpatient automated dispensing machines, and preparing outpatient-controlled substances in accordance with facility policy for pharmacist verification. The incumbent performs all duties under the supervision of a pharmacist and is expected to acquire and maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance. The technician assigned to this role will be assigned to all areas, duties, and tours to cover all technical work assignments in the pharmacy, and other duties assigned by management.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Appropriately restocks controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned.
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound alike, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items.
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate.
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile).
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians, interns, and students. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, etc.
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, assuring that at all times these medications are never left unsecured.
• Complies with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances.
• Assists inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections.
• Receives and responds to all telephone inquiries from patients/family members regarding any issue related to prescription availability.

You will serve as the Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) for the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Total-Reward-of-a-Allied-Health-Professions-VA-Career-11-4-2022.pdf

The Intermediate Care Technician is an occupational specialty, especially for former military combat medics, medical technicians, and corpsmen. As an ICT, you will operate within clearly defined clinical competencies. For this job announcement, you may work in multiple clinical settings based on facility needs, these include but are not limited to, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, Women's health and COVID Screening, Swabbing Stations, and Vaccine Operations.

The clinical activities for the hospital will include but are not limited to:

• Performing observation-based screening and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel, this may involve completing clinical reminders, obtaining patient health history, chief complaints, medication history, and identification of health- related conditions that may impact the patient's health status.
• Completing approved templates and tools, such as, intake/outtake forms, normal result note follow up, clinical reminders, procedure and intervention notes established by the agency.
• Assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations in an outpatient setting. This can include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention, management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients, by providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB). Assists licensed staff with the delivery of care to patients with complex, specialized, and potentially life-threatening situations. You will assist licensed staff with setting up equipment and providing treatment during in person or virtual visits.
• Operating specialized medical equipment to obtain diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. Observes patient status and keeps licensed clinical staff informed of any change in condition. You will assist clinical providers with emergency medical care, provides emergency response as part of the Rapid-Response-Team (RRT), and assists with training of other hospital clinical staff.
• Performing Diagnostic Tests. Examples: Vital Signs, 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Point-of-Care. Examples: glucometer, COVID swabbing
• Specimen collection and Preparation. Examples: collecting and labeling venous blood samples
• Minor Procedures. Examples: simple one-layer laceration repairs, incision and drainage, skin stapling, STERIS trips, Dermabond
• Medication Administration: nebulized medications, topical, limited PO meds, vaccine administration
• Wound Care. Examples. wound debridement, Wet-to-Dry dressings, Unna Boot placement, compression dressings- Forflex and Profour, wound vac placement, graft application
• Patient education within scope of care or while providing an intervention
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Thoroughly and appropriately documents actions, interventions and procedures in the medical record. Examples: Procedural notes and progress notes