Summary This position is located within 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 Forte Meade, South Dakota. Responsibilities ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** 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 independent preliminary assessments of patient's condition and follows prescribed protocols that are appropriate to the circumstance; 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; Provides advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), international trauma life support (ITLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), advanced airway management, CPR, and/or drug treatments; Provides fluid resuscitation by intravenous application; Observes, records, and monitors patient's condition and administers medication as appropriate; Serves in a technical support capacity to the Emergency Department when necessary. 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 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.). Performs other directly related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Paramedics work rotating shifts, 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 & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications English Language Proficiency: 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 Factor (Screen-Out) - 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 SPF are ineligible for further consideration. Selective Placement Factors are as follows (NOTE: Certifications/documentation of the following must be submitted at the time of application to receive credit for further consideration): Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification Must possess and maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Certification Must possess a valid/current state issued Paramedic license/certification for eligibility for employment as a Paramedic Must possess a valid and unrestricted 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, 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-08) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes performing patient triage and recording patient vital signs; providing assistance to emergency personnel when making preliminary assessment of a patient's condition; knowledge of a various body systems, i.e., skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and genitourinary to perform patient examination; providing transportation of patients to medical treatment facilities; using communication equipment and techniques to accurately obtain and relay information to and from dispatchers and health care providers; knowledge of protocols and treatments used in the delivery of emergency care of patients in various situations; and utilizing emergency or patient transport vehicles. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successfully completed two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond the first year) and experience, described above, to meet total qualification requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Condition of Continued Employment: Paramedic shall obtain certification as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) no later than (NLT) 18 months after employment as condition of continued employment with VA. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Emergency Care First Response Patient Care Transportation 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. Physical Requirements: This position 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. May be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective closing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises. Employee may be exposes to infection and contagious diseases, and may involve exposure to patients who are intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, or mentally unstable resulting in belligerent and sometimes violent behavior. 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/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.