The position serves as a Medical Technician (Phlebotomist) at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) The primary purpose of the position is to be competent and proficient in phlebotomy, specimen processing, shipment of biological specimen, point of care testing, and other laboratory responsibilities.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities for the position include but are not limited to: Obtaining venous and capillary blood specimens from patients using knowledge of human anatomy, aseptic technique, and phlebotomy material selection (i.e., vacutainer, syringe, butterfly, lancet). Uses judgment in selection of phlebotomy site based upon the patient's condition, age group, and type of test to be performed. Prepares phlebotomy site for proper specimen collection. Ensures proper identification of patients. Clearly labels specimens after drawing as required. Provides detailed instruction to patients for specialized testing requirements including collection procedures for; sputum culture, pinworm analysis, stool culture, ova/parasite examination, 24-hour urine collection. Performs and documents glucose testing. Serves as receptionist at the laboratory front desk, greeting patients, providing them with appropriate guidance, answering nontechnical inquiries, and referring technical inquiries to the appropriate laboratory staff member. Similarly, receives other persons visiting or calling the laboratory reception area. Aids physicians by processing a wide variety of clinical pathology specimens for shipment to the VA main reference laboratories. Prepares containers for collection (i.e., measures and adds appropriate amount of acid or other chemical preservative for pre-collection requirements; measures and records total volume on receipt of specimens; and tests and adjusts pH to specified requirements on specimens after receipt). Centrifuges specimens and aliquots sample into proper shipping container. Ensures specimens are properly logged daily into the shipping computer database and stored according to temperature requirements. Receives, packages, and ships anatomical pathology and cytology samples to appropriate reference laboratories. Packages specimens for pickup by courier and mailing to the reference laboratory. Receives blood tube specimens for HIV testing using experience, knowledge, and pertinent reference material. Prepares HIV samples for shipment and packs batches according to reference laboratory guidelines. Independently determines suitability of samples and reject samples that do not meet minimum standards. Researches and resolves problems associated with any samples without physician orders, or any testing orders without samples submitted. Contacts physician for additional needed information and/or patient history to ensure proper testing and interpretative data is received. Performs point of care testing such as urinalysis, hcg, HIV, and WBG. Conduct Federal drug screen collections for the Federal agency workplace drug testing programs. Training others to process patient samples, centrifuge, sort, label, separate, pack, mark, and ship by air to the main laboratory in Honolulu according to regulatory requirements. Maintains the laboratory facility, equipment, instruments, and supplies. Performs inventories, rotates stock and requisitions supplies for assigned work areas. Performs safety and facility inspections and places work orders for repairs as necessary. Maintains patient records, requisitions, monthly reports, and other files. Monitors inventory of supplies, reagents and controls allowing sufficient lead time to obtain additional supplies prior to running out. Stores reagents in accordance with manufacturer's directions. Ensures all expired reagents/controls are disposed of properly. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD03154A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/26/2024. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 Requirements: For positions at GS-4 and above you must possess specialized experience in the following: Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or 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 Qualification Requirements: 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-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: technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking), performing venipuncture for blood collection, processing and/or shipping laboratory specimens, and utilizing a laboratory information system to input and/or retrieve data, and preparing reports of findings. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have graduate education or have completed an internship for the position. The education and/or internship is creditable only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. (Please include a copy of transcript or official documentation of internship with application package.). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Specimen CollectionTechnical 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: Medium work of lifting up to 40 pounds and/or carrying objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Responsible for lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects. Require large motor and well as fine motor skills. 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 Spark M Matsunaga Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 459 Patterson Road Honolulu, HI 96819 US
• Name: Shane Nakanelua-Johnson
• Phone: 808-465-8000
• Email: [email protected]