This position is located in the Ralph H Johnson, VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, Geriatrics/Acute Care Unit. The incumbent works under the Supervision of Physical Therapists (PT), Occupational Therapists (OT) and Recreation Therapist to provide services that promote the prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/14/2025. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): 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; OR Education and Training For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. In addition to the IOR, candidates must meet the specialized experience below: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) full year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-04, in Federal service that has required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Experience in patient care working as a rehab aid, rehab technician, patient care technician, or health technician. OR, Substitution of Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. (A legible copy of transcripts with date the degree was conferred, coursework with grades and hours earned must be submitted with your application.) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. (A legible copy of transcripts with date the degree was conferred, coursework with grades and hours earned must be submitted with your application.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Computer Skills Critical Thinking Customer Service Infection Control Interpersonal Skills Partnering Patient Care Safety Engineering 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily active and requires standing, walking, bending, lifting, squatting, carrying light items, pushing wheelchairs and providing assistance in moving veterans. The work requires above average agility and dexterity; and may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. 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/.
Major duties include but not limited to: Assist with implementation of STRIDE and other therapy programs. This can include managing lines and IV's/IV poles, wheelchairs, etc. that may limit function otherwise. Assist therapy staff in mobility of certain veterans utilizing Safe Patient Handling Techniques. Assist in transport of patients to and from clinic(s) within the facility. Promote STRIDE Program by participating in daily walks with enrolled participants and completing required documentation timely in CPRS. Maintains infection control and safety precautions. Assists with fitting/issuing/instructing in proper use of basic prosthetics, orthotics, and supportive devices. Adjusts, instructs and issues assistive devices for ambulation and assists in instruction of patients in proper use, care and safety. Assists in measuring and adjusting wheelchairs and instructs patients in proper use, care, and safety. Assist with instruction of patients in the use of orthoses, supportive devices, Activities of Daily Living devices, and leisure activities. Prepares and cleans up treatment areas. Prepares work areas (cleans mats, puts out clean linens, equipment) prior to sessions. Cleans work areas (mat, soiled linens and equipment) following treatment sessions and at end of the day. Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions and maintains treatment area in a safe, orderly manner. Performs all others duties assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (subject to change based on agency needs) Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD10778A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized