Position is in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) at the Department of Veteran Affairs in El Paso TX. Incumbent works in PLMS & functions as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). Functions in a non-supervisory capacity as an MLT as a generalist in medical technology with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of chemistry (Including special chemistry & toxicology), hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, immunology & specimen procurement and processing

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Preparing/Examining Specimen Operating instrumentation that performs blood cell testing with the newest methodologies which include impedance testing, flow cytometry, immunochemical staining. The instrumentation is complex and performs multiple tests simultaneously. The display and report must be interpreted utilizing the instrument report as well as interpretation of cellular staining characteristics and microscopic morphology of the peripheral blood smear. Operating instrumentation for semi-quantitative and quantitative measurements of chemical and cellular constituents in urine specimens. This area also includes urine microscopy examinations by phase contrast and pregnancy tests. Operating instrumentation for the determination of prothrombin time for warfarin monitoring and activated partial thromboplastin time. Operating a variety of complex instrumentation. Must have the necessary skills to program and troubleshoot the instrumentation. Responsible for the operation of the analyzers to include calibrations, preventative maintenance, quality control test performance, and proficiency testing. select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of test procedures both manually and on testing equipment. Recognizing and reacting to indicators of malfunction and when appropriate, locate and implement corrective action with minimal direction or comprehensive procedures. Using medical procedures to obtain samples of blood or other body fluids or substances. Ensuring safe and nontraumatic processes are used with critical concern for the donor and for the quality of the specimen while using standard aseptic procedures and safeguards. Specimen Collection and Processing Performing phlebotomy and following current CLSI guidelines. Ensuring two patient identifiers and active communication are used with each blood draw and specimen collection. Drawing tubes in the correct order in accordance with the Medical Center policies and procedures. Organizing Lab Collection Lists, STAT and Timed draws and reviewing the work list for uncollected orders and resolving the uncollected status. Processing specimens using complex instrumentation and centrifugation and transferring specimens to daughter tubes for storage, shipping, or testing. Measuring aliquots of body fluids, such as 24-hour urine, in order to store or prepare for testing. Entering and verifying reference lab results in VISTA, evaluating the validity of the test result in relation to the test system, assay procedure, age and gender of the patient. Maintain Equipment/Supplies/Facilities Maintaining and documenting the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies. Determining compliance with safety requirements establishing inventory and equipment maintenance requirements and maintaining appropriate inventories and maintenance schedules. Maintaining laboratory stock and orders materials, as needed. Maintaining laboratory in a clean and safe condition according to agency or accreditation requirements. Calibrating and maintaining laboratory instrumentation on timely intervals so as to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures. Community Provider Order Entry Receiving laboratory orders directly from Veteran Patients and Providers outside of the VA system. Evaluating the community provider laboratory orders and placing orders within the VA computer system to facilitate the patient specimen collection at VA facilities. Tracking all orders received and entered in the appropriate system. Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PDHA756-00488-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This is a Bargaining Unit position

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/25/2023. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement Specialized Experience For positions at GS-4 and above: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR You may qualify based on your experience as described below: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: planning, scheduling and and utilizing established work methods and procedures to provide support to facility locations; maintaining appropriate quality control testing of reagents prior to use for validity of systems used; effectively using, calibrating, adjusting and maintaining all instruments and functioning as the technical expert in performing phlebotomies. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Diagnostic medical testing Quality assurance Technical competence Specimen collection 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 sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]