The Paramedic position is assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Transportation Services (VTS), Ambulance Service, VA Medical Center (VAMC) locations with an emergency room, acute or urgent care clinic, or other similar departments performing basic and advanced life support procedures in Amarillo, TX. This position requires: Current and valid State issued motor vehicle operator's license. Current and valid Basic Life Support Provider certification Current and valid National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) Current and valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:- In addition to meeting the Driver's License and Certification requirements, for the Paramedic position, you must also have the specialized experience and/or directly related education, to qualify for this position as described below. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-9: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-8 level in the Federal service. Technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: having a broad knowledge of the majority of body systems, i.e., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and genitourinary, to perform patient examination and to provide prompt, efficient, and appropriate patient care and handling; having a well-developed working awareness of physiological and topographic anatomy, e.g., right/left, surface, proximal/distal, superior/ inferior to accurately transmit location information about the body and its functions; understanding of diagnostic signs, e.g., pulse, respiration, blood pressure, temperature, skin color, pupils of the eyes, state of consciousness, ability to move on command, reaction to pain, etc., to perform patient examination, provide patient care, and ensure appropriate patient handling; familiarity of the legal considerations of emergency care, e.g., actual/implied consent, Good Samaritan laws, etc., to limit the government and the individual's exposure to lawsuits while maintaining the legal standards of care. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Successful completion of two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree directly related to the work of this position meets the requirements for the GS-9 level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Physical Requirements: The Paramedics 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 position of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. Paramedics 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 Paramedic to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. Work may also expose the paramedic to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: First Response Technical Credibility Vehicle Operation IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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/. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Paramedical Duties: Responds to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, sometimes encountering situations which may be life threatening. Determines and prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance. Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness. Makes an independent preliminary assessment of the patient's condition and selects from a variety of prescribed protocols the one that is considered appropriate under the given circumstances. Prioritizes treatments for patients having multiple problems and employs a variety of advanced emergency medicine techniques, methods, and equipment during transport to the appropriate medical facility. Administers basic and advanced life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), international trauma life support (ITLS), PALS, PEPP, advanced airway management, CPR, and/or drug treatments. Performs Paramedic Minimum Psychomotor Skill Set. Performs Ambulance Interpretive Guidelines as required and in strict compliance with standing orders and protocols within the national scope or practice and written standards. Ambulance/Transport Vehicle Operation: Selects the most efficient route to and from sites, taking into consideration traffic. patterns, health facility locations, etc. Operates the emergency transport vehicle and uses telephone and radio communications equipment and systems. Adheres to traffic ordinances and regulations pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles. Prepares appropriate patient and vehicle use documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met (i.e., after each trip, replaces linens, blankets, and other supplies; sends supplies and equipment for sterilization, and ensures vehicle is ready for the next run). Performs thorough safety and operator maintenance inspections and makes minor repairs on a variety of emergency ambulances, patient transport vehicles, and medical equipment. Decontaminates the vehicle in accordance with Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) established procedures. Utilizes various tools and equipment, some of which are specialized emergency medical equipment such as Henley backboards, EKG monitor and defibrillator, mechanical CPR device, etc. Provides a thorough safety inspection and operator maintenance (e.g., monitoring fluid levels, replacing air filters and interior lights, checking tire pressure, etc.). Work Schedule: Paramedic work rotating shirts, including holidays, and are subject to occasional recall to maintain adequate coverage of the Emergency Department and ambulance service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mandatory overtime may be required due to run time that may extend beyond normal scheduled work hours. Recruitment Incentive: Authorized for highly qualified applicants. Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
