This Medical Technician (Phlebotomist) position is in the Pathology and Laboratory Service in the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System located at the Leeds, MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

Medical Technician (Phlebotomist) GS-0645-05 Duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent Medical Technician is assigned to Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Leeds, MA. They must be familiar with basic laboratory operations. In addition to performing phlebotomy, the incumbent must be able to process and package specimens for shipment. The incumbent may be assigned to various duties and duty stations according to the needs of the laboratory. Veterans ages eighteen through geriatric years are served with all diagnoses found in late adolescence, early mid-life, and late adulthood. It is expected that the incumbent will: Perform phlebotomy from outpatients ensuring that the blood is placed in the proper vacutainer and correctly labeled. Be proficient in the art of phlebotomy, being able to draw even the most difficult patient. Incumbent must be productive, promptly moving patients along to avoid un-necessary patient waiting times. Provides a friendly, helpful, and respectful working environment. Be able to instruct patients on proper specimen collection, on those specimens the patient must collect. Evaluate suitability of specimen for testing. Appropriately handles accession and the processing of specimens. Prepares and packages specimens for shipment. Ensure correct identity of patients throughout the processing of the specimens. Resolve discrepancies. Ensure that incoming samples are correctly collected, labeled, and stored at appropriate temperatures. Properly centrifuge specimens and when required, pour-off serum into correctly labeled secondary tubes. Makes the appropriate arrangements for STAT and/or ASAP testing. Monitor supplies and stocks the phlebotomy area accordingly at the end of the workday. Utilize the computer according to laboratory procedure/policy. Follows all hospital and laboratory policies/procedures. Adhere to hospital and lab policies concerning chemical and biohazard safety. Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Laboratory Manager. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD00175A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Notifications: This position is a Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Competitive Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/04/2024. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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. 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-04) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (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 experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests, examinations, and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 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. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond post-high school education. Note: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer ServicePatient CareQuality AssuranceSpecimen Collection 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 moderate standing, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, walking, bending, lifting light/moderate objects (

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 Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]