The Phoenix VA Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) Health Technician (Anatomic Pathology), in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. This position enters all surgical pathology specimens into the computer system, matching tissue exams requested with the specimens received. This position documents daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance records and temperatures in histology and the morgue.

Duties

The Health Technician (Anatomic Pathology) assists the Anatomic Pathology Department with the diagnosis of disease based on the macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and molecular examination of organs, and tissues. This position assists the Decedent Affairs Office and the Anatomic Pathology Department with the disposition of bodies to the morgue. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Documents blocks and slides received and sent out to outside institutions. Confirms the proper labeling of all specimens' containers, slides, and cassettes. Programs and loads histology processors with surgical specimens. Labels cassettes required for grossing of specimens. Distributes slide material for diagnostic evaluation by other staff. Prepares samples, slides, smears, and other types of specimens (i.e., blood, urine, tissue). Assists technicians in processing cytology specimens using specialized instrumentation. Assesses the validity of the specimen and brings discrepancies to the attention of the supervisor. Labels slides for the processing of specimens. Files surgical pathology slides and blocks for permanent storage. Retrieves slides and blocks as requested by pathologist staff and residents. Transports specimens from other hospital locations to the Histology Laboratory. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, occasional weekends, and holidays. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Anatomic Pathology)/PD11209A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. 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, 10/06/2023. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): This occupation has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). The IOR that must be meet is : Specialized experience: positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience as a health technician, experience documenting information in computer systems, labeling information, and processing results or tests. OR, Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience as a health technician, experience documenting information in computer systems, labeling information, and processing results or tests. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Preferred Experience: Current working knowledge of anatomic pathology processes, and concepts. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailClinical Data Collection/DocumentationTechnical 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: The incumbent will experience physical demands such as sitting, walking, standing, reaching, stooping and bending to obtain supplies and operate instruments and computers. The work includes moderate lifting, but occasionally requires heavy lifting of bodies, reagents or supplies. Work involves repetitive hand motions and requires good hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Work Environment: The work involves moderate risks or discomforts associated with working in a pathology laboratory with regular and recurrent exposure to hazards such as infectious materials, hazardous reagents (e.g. formaldehyde, acids, bases) and sharp objects (e.g. scalpel blades,). Must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including a lab coat, gloves, and eye protection as indicated by established safety procedures. The work area is adequately lighted, heated/cooled, and ventilated. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Stacy Cole
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]