The Health Technician (Phlebotomy) position is located within the Nursing, Ambulatory Care Service Line of the Montana VA Health Care System, and is responsible for collecting, evaluating and processing patient specimens according to policy/procedure established by the service, health care system, VA and regulatory agencies.

Duties

The Health Technician (Phlebotomy) performs a variety of functions to include accessioning specimens into the computer system; collecting, evaluating, and processing patient specimens; answering questions related to sample collection; instructing and assisting patients and sending out specimens for testing. Duties include, but are not limited to: Collects and processes blood and body fluid specimens, ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for the patient and the quality of the specimen with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising or required re sticks. Performs and exhibits knowledge and skills specific to the young adult, adult, and geriatric populations; provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served. Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results; makes sounds decisions independently and takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while collecting samples. Familiar with tests performed throughout the laboratory (i.e., chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, microbiology, and cytology); must be familiar with laboratory send-out tests, respective requirements, and requirements noted by the laboratories where they are performed. Processes all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity. Determines correct patient identification (i.e., patient's name, full social security number); verifies proper tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn; labels all tubes with the patient's name, full social security number, date, time and phlebotomist's initials and re-identifies patient using full name and full social security number). Maintains a clean workspace and continuously monitors the area for contamination; follows procedures for properly decontaminating spills and the safe disposal of all contaminated materials. Receives and stores laboratory supplies to include documenting the receipt date on each item, verifying the storage requirement of each item by temperature requirement, and rotating stock to ensure the newest supply is in the back; check expiration date of all reagents and supplies. Serves as a resource person person and/or troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing VistA order entry and results options. Prepares lab appointment lists for Veterans at least one week ahead of schedule to ensure prompt attention to the patient when they present for specimen collection. Investigates missing or incomplete patient laboratory orders; contacts the nurse or provider involved to ensure missing or incomplete orders are placed or corrected prior to the patient presenting for sample collection. Performs blood collection duties in a courteous manner; makes the patient feel as comfortable as possible; explains what is about to happen and any necessary processes required of the patient for specimen collection. Assists in teaching laboratory and clinic personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, specimen collection, and specimen requirements. Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action; establishes priorities for emergency orders; notifies technologists of impending work. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD10174A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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, 09/18/2024. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 has a minimum qualification entry requirement: 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. 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. AND, 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: communication skills to work effectively and diplomatically with clinic employees, patients, and families; thorough knowledge of various menus, options, procedures, and equipment to use computer programs; knowledge of policies and procedures as related to patient care; skills sufficient to recognize, report, and assist in emergency situations; skills to observe and report physical or mental changes in patients; knowledge of clinical test names that are ordered and their different synonyms; skill in venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain the required quantities of specimens needed for the variety of laboratory examinations performed; knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medications, and effects of illness to provide patient care; skills in phlebotomy techniques, procedures, and other specimen collection procedures, including use of Vacutainer collection system; safety needles, syringes and butterfly needles, capillary puncture techniques, and use of microtainers; knowledge of infection control, safety, disaster, exposure control, chemical, hand hygiene and infection control plans, and universal precaution procedures; knowledge of collection, processing and storage requirements, and procedures for laboratory specimens. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a bachelor's degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. 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. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) to meet total experience requirements. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: AccountabilityApplies Technology to TasksAttention to DetailCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Interpersonal Skills 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 requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching; requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration. 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 Montana VA Health Care System 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]