Licensed Practical Nurse-Telehealth Clinical Technician

Provides marketing for the Home Telehealth program and providing education and support to Veterans regarding VA Apps and the My HealthVet (MHV) program. Orients patient and significant others to the Telehealth services including Home Telehealth (HT), VA Video Connect (VVC), CVT, Store and Forward Telehealth (SFT), and other care modalities that can benefit the patient. Coordinates information between providers, facilities and networks as appropriate.

Performs tele-dermatology, tele-retinal and other images (as they become approved and available), with accuracy and dexterity. Demonstrates accurate use of Veterans Health Information Systems & Technology Architecture (VISTA) imaging package and reports errors to the Facility Telehealth Coordinator (FTC) and supervisor or designee. Ensures patient has verbally consented to taking images for store and forward and documents in the electronic medical record (EMR).

Upholds the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations during and after the images are taken including transferring images from the memory card into the EMR before taking images of the next patient. Demonstrates proper use of the consult pathways/package in EMR, to include entry as imager, consult to the reader, closing out consult etc. Processes Telehealth consults and corrects Orphan encounters. Completes action required items, submits weekly/monthly reports, and maintains established Telehealth performance benchmarks.

Uses established business rules for enrollment and registration, scheduling, consult management, VISTA Electronic Wait List (EWL), handling no shows, patient cancellations, and clinic cancellations. Maintains an accurate calendar of CVT and S&F clinics. Maintains an accurate inventory of Telehealth peripherals (cameras, stethoscopes, ultrasound, and others) and usures equipment is cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with VISN 8 Sunshine Training Center. Work

Schedule

Full Time, Monday-Friday, 0730 - 1600. Telework: Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Functional Statement: 81206F.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-7- Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN.

Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans.

Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery. Makes astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in patient's condition, and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention.

At this grade level, the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations. Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received.

(This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate, prescribed interventions. Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels. Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene, as directed, to assure the continuation of optimal, safe and therapeutic patient care delivery.

At this grade level, the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate. Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control, resistant or abusive behaviors, or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions.

This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision. Exhibits skill, creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects or in developing educational materials/media. Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice.

Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care. Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology, effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas. Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non medical staff in patient care delivery.

Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff. Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision.

Individuals in these positions are, to a considerable extent, expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art and science of practical nursing. The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.

Preferred

Experience

Minimum of 1 year of Telehealth Clinical Technician (TCT) experience. Demonstrated ability in previous assignments to make critical decisions in stressful environments. Demonstrated dependability for duty and flexibility in work assignments and hours in previous assignments. Ability to work independently. Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification (or equivalent) or higher with performance improvement/project management experience strongly preferred. Physical

Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, kneeling, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.

Transferring patients and objects may be required. May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual, capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U. S. C. 7402(d) and 7407(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Education - Documentation submitted if Applicable- Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by ACEN at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Exceptions include: Health care education in the military service or training in the military service which is accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure will be accepted as meeting the education requirements for VHA employment. OR Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U. S. C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U. S. C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986. OR Individual granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.

Licensure -Documentation submitted- Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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…