Summary The position is in the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Veterans' Health Administration, Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service. The multi-skilled Health Technician performs a wide range of funtions which include compliance to CLIA and The Joint Commission regulations for laboratory testing, clerical, and health technician functions. The Health Technician uses knowledge of technical methods and procedures to cary out a varitye of essential duties. Responsibilities Ensuring proper cleaning and performing minor maintenance of laboratory equipment; ensuring all quality control materials are run and acceptable daily or as required by regulations. Receiving patients for medical laboratory testing; processing orders and appointments; collecting specimens; contacting providers to correct order.errors or to place orders if patient arrives with no orders in the system. Working in close cooperation with Medical Officer of the Facility, ensuring effective medical treatment is provided to eligible veterans. Advising professional staff on center and lab policy and testing matters; notifying professional staff of administrative matters that require attention. Performing patient care procedures such as collection of lab specimens, applying dressings, and adjusting simple supportive equipment. Processing tissue cultures and specimen samples related to pathology testing which require difficult specialized procedures. Preparing patient for blood or urine collection according to CAP (College of American Pathologists) and The Joint Commission (TJC) guidelines, including accepting patient orders, printing labels, selecting proper tubes and containers, PPE, labeling specimens with all required information in front of the patient. Following proper patient preparation and venipuncture while following sterile collection techniques and bandaging patient appropriately following collection. Proper patient identification using two identifiers is an absolute must and a National Patient Safety requirement. Collecting blood must follow proper tube collection order and without contamination; collecting blood samples by venipuncture or arterial puncture and accurately labeling all blood tubes and other collection containers. Instructing patients on proper specimen collection procedures to ensure specimens are acceptable for testing. Collecting type and crossmatching specimens verifying the patient's identity; accurately completing required forms; ensuring proper collector identification on tube(s) and all forms; ensuring proper identification of a second verifier. Collecting microbiology specimens in support of the Veterans' Administration's initiative to reduce transmission of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Maintaining adequate quota of sterile and non-sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment; checking for outdated supplies/items. Preparing specimens to be sent to outside laboratories, including reference and sharing laboratories, for testing not done at this laboratory; assuring proper specimen was collected; recording in send-out book; putting specimen in proper receptacle; packaging specimen to maintain the correct temperature during shipping; completing and checking paperwork; sending specimen to the correct laboratory; returned send-out results are entered into the computer and scanning program. Receiving and accessions specimens from Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System inpatients, outpatients; correctly accessions testing for referral and research specimens; administers and collects specimens for employee drug screening program. Solving technical specimen problems and discrepancies; maintaining QA databases; documenting problems and resolution. Managing CBOC packaging and shipping supply inventory, ensuring in-clinic availability of required materials for safe, legal transport of biological specimens to this laboratory for testing. Receiving all package deliveries to the laboratory, signing for receipt and acceptance of possession responsibility; evaluating specimen integrity; judging correctness of specimen type, quantity, age, and condition upon receipt; reconciling physical specimens received against printed manifest documents. Maintaining service staff records; ensuring proper certifications in accordance with CAP and TJC; assisting in supervision of clinical staff including training and competency assessments; monitors QC materials, proficiency testing and competencies for nursing, and provider Point of Care glucometer. Answers telephone calls; coordinates information and actions relating to patient care and services; assists patients, visitors, and others requesting information. Monitoring humidity and temperature charts for laboratory; reporting readings outside of normal compliance with regulatory standards. Sets-up necessary accessories or supplies; advises medical personnel of new equipment, accessories or supplies. Facilitates release of information from patient medical records; protects confidentiality of patient's medical records. Work Schedule: Tour of Duty for this position varies based on the needs of the Service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD14453-A and PD14453A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/06/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) GS-06: All applicants must meet IOR for this position. Specialized experience that includes support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. This includes technician experience that required the application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory; OR, Graduate education or an internship that are directly related to the work of the Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education; AND Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the Federal service in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: determining technical factors, setting controls, calibrating, and operating equipment and insturments such as an occult blood analyzer; proper cleaning of laboratory equipment; performing minor maintenance of laboratory equipment; accepting patient orders; printing labels; selecting proper tubes and containers; determining correct handling environment for each specimen submitted for referral laboratory testing; ensuring fire, safety, disaster and infection control procedures are implemented; instructing patients on proper specimen collection procedures; preparing specimens to be sent to outside laboratories; answering telephone calls; coordinating information and actions relating to patient care and services; using courtesy and sound business etiquette in all interactions; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute graduate education or an internship for the required experience provided the education or internship is directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education; You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Diagnostic Medical Testing Patient Care Specimen Collection Technical Competence 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 and Work Environment: The work requires much walking through the clinic, with occasional requirements to lift objects, computer work and operating office equipment. The positions require the ability to process written and electronic information. The work requires the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally distressed patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity due to the fine skills of some of the point of care lab testing. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The incumbent may be required to commute between two outpatient clinics within the workweek, depending on the clinic workload. The work environment involves risks typically associated with performance of laboratory work. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions. Environment may involve infectious diseases, contact with or disposal of body secretions, verbal and physical abuse from emotionally distraught individuals and/or working around equipment 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 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.