The Health Technician position is located at the James J. Peters, in the Bronx for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. The purpose of the position is to perform all processing of specimens collected throughout the facility for the purpose of providing acceptable samples for clinical laboratory analysis. The incumbent will receive collected and delivered blood samples, body fluids and other biological specimens according to VAMC Pathology and Laboratory and CAP guidelines and protocols

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent will receive collected and delivered blood samples, body fluids and other biological specimens according to documented James J Peters VAMC Pathology and Laboratory and CAP guidelines and protocols. Provides customer service and support to all patients, physicians and health care providers arriving in the laboratory for collection, preparation and processing of specimens for diagnostics testing. Cleaning, disinfection, and organization of work areas, including restocking the accession area, collection areas and areas where specimens are received, processed, referred and stored. The incumbent may provide instruction and orientation of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service procedures, practices, and policies to coworkers, new employees, students, volunteers, clinic staff, and other contacts as necessary and/or assigned. The incumbent may be required to clean, maintain, and initiate start-up or shutdown of specific technical equipment. The incumbent may be assigned to perform other ancillary and technical duties as assigned. These duties might include, but are not limited to: Preparation of samples for technologist testing, such as accessioning, labeling, centrifugation, decanting, aliquoting, sorting, processing research sample, loading of sample onto instrument, retrieval and storage of specimens, send out sample and special send out/biohazard material etc. The incumbent will receive and process send out specimens according to the reference laboratory specimen requirements. The incumbent will file, organize and verify all reference report through the automated and manual method. Maintain laboratory records. The incumbent will document and communicate all specimen issues, such as labeling or ordering errors, to the accessioning/shipping section supervisor for corrective action. The incumbent may be required to work irregular tours of duty, which will be scheduled by the Supervisor. Tours of duty will be scheduled well in advance to ensure appropriate adjustment in routines by the incumbent. Assignment of day-to-day duties will be at the discretion of the laboratory Supervisor or his/her designee who will make such assignments based on the current and existing needs of the Laboratory Service. Will provide services to various laboratory sections where accessioning and processing of specimens are required and when filing/retrieving of reports/results are required. (Core Main Laboratory, Microbiology, etc.) Provides clerical and administrative support to the service. Maintains records and statistical data for reference purposes when necessary. Provides action to all laboratory consults on orders requested by the ordering providers. Rectifies and administratively approves all consults (Lab add-ons, test not found in CPRS request, etc.) when completed. Organizes and labels samples with barcoding information. Process specimens as described in PALM manual including automated LEDI and Vista potions by ward order entry and multi-purpose accessioning. Issuance of materials and supplies needed by other Services necessary to ensure appropriate sample collections are made (e.g. Polymedco iFOBT collection kits, Quantiferon collection kits, other B-D blood vacutainers, 24 hrs. urine collection containers, send out testing)). Distribution of clinical laboratory reports/results during periods of computer downtime. Preparation of samples for send-out testing to other V.A. laboratories and reference laboratories. Maintenance and documentation of centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers, eyewashes, and safety shower in the laboratory. The incumbent will receive and process send out specimens according to the reference laboratory specimen requirements. Provides customer service and support to all patients, physicians and health care providers arriving in the laboratory for collection, preparation and processing of specimens for diagnostics testing send-out testing to other V.A. laboratories and reference laboratories. The incumbent will complete SAF T PAK training certification every 2 years. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, rotating weekends. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD55804A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2023. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. Preferred Experience: 1 years of of related laboratory experience which includes: handling and processing specimens; transporting specimens from the collection site to the laboratory sections; and assisting patients, physicians, providers on specimen requirement. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: Ability to communicate in spoken and written English with patients and other health care personnel with sufficient fluency to satisfactorily carry out assigned responsibilities, in accordance with Public Law 95-201. 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-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience providing assistance of a technical, specialized, or support nature to health and medical personnel in the diagnosis or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions related to handling and processing specimens in a laboratory or clinical setting; Knowledge of technical methods required for processing specimens and performing specimen analysis, utilizing automated and non-automated equipment; Ability to load sample onto instrument according to policy and procedures; Knowledge of laboratory testing necessary to communicate unusual and complex aspects and/or specific information requested by the medical staff; Skill in the operation and use of specialized equipment and materials; Knowledge of the environmental risks involved with performing the duties associated with a clinical laboratory, accident prevention, safety practices, and infection control procedures; Ability to perform basic data input and retrieval, to achieve accurate patient identification, to retrieve orders, to perform test accessioning, to be able to retrieve test information, to add, delete and or multi-accession/test; Knowledge of basic clerical and record keeping techniques to complete and maintain worksheets/ log records; Ability to follow instructions, both written and oral; Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing in order to gather and clarify information; Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other member of the healthcare team external relation, customer services and patient education; Knowledge and understanding of patient privacy and information security according to HIPPA regulation; Knowledge necessary to analyze a problem, defines the issue, determine alternatives, and develop a correct and logical conclusion. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Infection ControlTechnical CompetenceTechnical Problem Solving 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 sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of reagents. The work requires the handling of moderately heavy contaminated waste up to 40 lbs. The incumbent will utilize all safety practices and equipment required by accrediting and regulatory agencies for purposes of ensuring compliance with occupational safety observance. 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 Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Keisha Smith
• Phone: 520-339-8112
• Email: [email protected]