The position is in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) at the Boise VA Medical Center. The incumbent performs a variety of functions, including accession specimens into computer system; collects, evaluates, and processes patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructs and assists patients; and sends out specimens for testing. Follows policies and procedures established by service, medical center, VA, and regulatory agencies.

Duties

Major duties include: Follows procedures for patient identification, sample procurement, and specimen labeling. Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients. Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container. Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained. Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques. Prepares specimens for testing, such as labeling, centrifugation, decanting, aliquoting, etc., prepares reagents, performs the test procedure, verifies the accuracy of the results and reports results in the VISTA computer system. The technician must be familiar with tests performed throughout the Laboratory, i.e., cytology, chemistry, and hematology. Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures. Receives accessioning and processing of laboratory specimens from the main draw room, emergency department (ED), ward collect specimens, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Home Base Health Care (HBHC) patient draws. Sorts all specimens by laboratory department and distributes specimens to corresponding testing area (i.e., Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Send Out (Reference Laboratory). Observes and processes employee drug screen testing. Responsible for receiving Microbiology specimens. Maintains clean workspace and continuously monitors area for contamination. Performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system for waived testing. Responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of all centrifuges and serofuges in the service. Processes send out specimens and stores specimens according to specimen storage requirements (i.e., ambient, frozen, or refrigerated). Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions as directed by the Technologist on duty. Communicates effectively and courteously with medical center staff and patients in a professional manner. Conducts training for new laboratory medical technicians, new medical laboratory technologists (MT)/chemistry staff and medical technologist students on how to operate and trouble-shoot the chemistry automated processing instrument. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Location: The selectee will be required to report to Boise, ID for initial training. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician- Phlebotomy/PD60447A 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 07/18/2024. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. For this vacancy, employees under the GS pay system must have held a GS-3 or higher position in the last 52 weeks to be eligible for the GS-5 grade level. If you have not held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks, or are a Wage Grade employee, this requirement does not apply to you. 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. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. In additional to the above requirements, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is: (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. At this level, specialized experience should include but are not limited to: collects and processes specimens obtained for analyses, performs venipuncture specimen collections from patients, process samples , prepare for shipment to reference labs, Verifies sample collection, patient identification, and sample transport requirements. Performing various technical laboratory procedures such as computer test access, computer search for past and future patient lab orders. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 appropriate to the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college, or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and college level education beyond the second year (60 semester hours) to qualify. This education must have been obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts required. Preferred Experience: 1 year of phlebotomy/blood draw experience. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailCustomer ServiceTeamwork 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: Physical demands will involve minimal lifting, long periods of standing, walking, bending, or sitting. The incumbent must have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to perform safe venipuncture procedures. Lifting will not exceed a weight of 30 pounds. The incumbent must fully utilize all safety practices and equipment provided by the medical center, and in compliance with local and accrediting agency requirements. 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/.

Contacts

• Address Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Suzy Everett
• Phone: 702-817-6811
• Email: [email protected]