This Advanced Histopathology Technician position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Anatomic Pathology Section and will provide services at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service.

Duties

The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. The advanced level Histopathology Technician's duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The technician carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory with no technical supervision. This includes routine and complex histopathological and cytopathological procedures, quality control and assurance procedures, operation and routine to complex maintenance of instrumentation, troubleshooting, and principles of performance improvement. Responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems. Utilizes specialized techniques for handling cell blocks, frozen sections, bone marrows, autopsies, and fine needle biopsies. The technician prepares technical adequate slide of surgical, cytology and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining (including immunohistochemistry and selective histochemical), and cover slipping. Processing Surgical and Autopsy Specimens Evaluates, accepts or rejects specimens, using proficiency in recognizing tissues and identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies, which may cause erroneous results or require special handling. Interacts with hospital personnel to correct discrepancies. Receives specimens for diagnostic cytology. Specimens are accessioned and labeled, and appropriate paperwork is generated. Specimens are processed, stained, and stored appropriately. Performs established quality control and quality assurance procedure to check the accuracy and validity of work. Records information daily. Records and tabulates date for required reports, such as quality assurance monitors. Maintains standards that conform to accreditation requirements. Using principles of histotechnology, processes surgical and autopsy tissue specimens which are often delicate and difficult to handle through the required, routine and complex steps of fixation, dehydration, clearing, infiltration, embedding, microtomy, staining and coverslipping. Operates equipment such as microscopes, microtomes, tissue processor, cryostat, embedding center, strainers and reagent recyclers. Processing Specialized Selective Stains and Complex Procedures In addition to the routine tissues, prepares minute biopsies, decalcifies bone specimens, submits tissues for electron microscopy and other specialized studies, processes bone marrow specimens, performs cell/tissue transfer techniques. Evaluates new histochemical methods for identification and distribution of chemical constituents of tissues ensuring exploitation of unique environments in cells, heterologous expression techniques as well as enzymatic activities. Prepares reagents for special staining procedures, which are used by the pathologist in differential diagnosis, involving histochemical and immunochemical reactions. Obtains, prepares, evaluates and documents control tissues. Performs stains according to written procedures and, develops new procedures. Prepares muscle biopsies using liquid nitrogen cooled isopentane with minimal ice crystal formation to assure preservation of labile enzymes for neuropathology processing and diagnosis at Joint Pathology Center (JPC). Rush and Dermatopathology Frozen Section Laboratory Coverage Performs procedures in the frozen section laboratory located in the operating room using rush and dermatopathology procedures methodologies. Orients, cuts and stains dermatology and other specimens, including minute biopsies for rapid diagnosis by the pathologist with no margin for error. Prepares quality frozen sections in 20 minutes per accrediting agency guidelines to provide rapid/rush diagnosis in surgical cases. Performs duties necessary for safe, smooth functioning of the STAT laboratory. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: Not suitable for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy. Experience and Education Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR, Education Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or, Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field. Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. Certification. None Grandfathering Provision. All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met by the candidates. Histopathology Technician, GS-7 (Advanced) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-06. At the GS-06 full performance level, the histopathology technician uses independent judgment to perform the full range of duties including analyzing and evaluating laboratory results. The histopathology technician carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision. This includes routine and complex histopathological and cytopathological procedures, quality control and assurance procedures, operation and routine maintenance of instrumentation, troubleshooting, and principles of performance improvement. The incumbent utilizes specialized techniques for handling cell blocks, frozen sections, bone marrows, autopsies, and fine-needle biopsies. The technician prepares technically adequate slides of surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining (including immunohistochemistry), and coverslipping. Additionally, the knowledge, skills, and abilities at the GS-06 grade level are: Knowledge of professional anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures, principles of performance improvement, reagent management, inventory supply systems, and document control systems. Knowledge of anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot instrumentation. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques. Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems. References: VA Handbook 5005/102, Part II, Appendix G55, Histopathology Technician Qualification Standard, GS-0646, dated April 6, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements. The work requires manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision; regular and recurring physical exertion such as use of microtome or cryostat and sitting and/or standing for long periods of time; lifting of five-gallon reagent container and other moderately heavy supplies and equipment; a high degree of tolerance and ability to work under stress which at time can be irregular and sometime constant. Additionally, the demand for accuracy and timeliness in reporting results to pathologist responsible for patient care is an ever-present responsibility and a constant concern of a responsible histopathology technician. Occasionally may be required to work longer than eight hours per day and provide coverage as essential personnel during Hurricane season or a National Disaster.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Jayme Cooper
• Phone: 717-222-1893
• Email: [email protected]