Summary

This position is located within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA North Texas Healthcare System in Bonham - TX. The Medical Technician is responsible for collecting and processing specimens including computerized accessioning - and delivery to the point of analysis or - if analysis is to be delayed - ensuring proper storage conditions are utilized to preserve specimen integrity.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-4 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: 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. ~AND~ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. ~AND~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience - and six (6) months of specialized experience 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. General Experience is: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position - or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. 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. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: Successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences - plus successful completion of (a) a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry - hematology - blood banking - and microbiology (including serology) and that - in addition - included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience - as described above. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen Collection IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular physical exertion such as walking - bending - recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics - abilities - and dexterity to perform intricate and technical procedures. Entering patient information - test orders - and data in a computer may result in physical problems from the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. The incumbent must have normal color vision. 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/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Coordinates and performs routine venipuncture specimen collection Demonstrates knowledge of principles - techniques - and practices of phlebotomy - hemostasis - and requirement of blood collection for the various tests performed in the laboratory
• Addresses patient phlebotomy issues such as difficult sticks - troubleshooting patient samples - and resolving patient/ patient family members and provider/nurse complaints or concerns
• Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per PLMS policies and procedures for both inpatient and outpatient orders
• Cleans and restocks the blood collection room and areas where collection trays and equipment are used/stored
• Must understand isolation precautions and the proper personal protective equipment necessary to perform phlebotomy procedures
• Identifies tests that require special handling conditions and appropriately performs proper specimen collection
• Initiates emergency care procedures in the event a patient has a reaction to blood collection procedures including fainting - hematoma - and anxiety
• Reviews and accepts test request orders for samples submitted for testing
• This includes accessioning samples into the laboratory
• Separates and routes the specimen to the specific laboratory section that performs the ordered test
• Serves as key contact for Veterans and beneficiaries seeking Diagnostic services - experiencing problems - and/or requesting information
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 6:30am to 5:00pm - rotating weekends and holidays
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.