Summary

The Medical Technician serves within the Phlebotomy and Specimen Receiving section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in the Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) and is responsible for inventory and record control - accessioning - specimen collection guidance - processing - testing - storage - clerical tasks - shipping of specimens - quality improvement activities - as well as performing primary phlebotomy duties to support patient care.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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 to meet the requirements of this position. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level - you must meet one of the following: -EXPERIENCE: One (1) year 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. To be creditable - this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. 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: Successful completion of at least one-half year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying one (1) year of full-time requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (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) -AND- 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - including standing - walking - bending - stooping - reaching - or carrying or lifting items such as specimen containers - supply boxes - phlebotomy equipment - etc. (up to 45 pounds and with assistance as needed). There may be special requirements for manual dexterity and coordination (i.e. - hand/eye coordination or good color vision) to perform precise procedures such as venipuncture and specimen handling. 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*** Major duties and responsibilities include: Performs blood collection procedures by venipuncture or capillary techniques on designated hospital inpatients and outpatients
• Establishes proper identity of all patients - ensures accountability of specimens by proper and complete labeling
• Administers minor first aid - if necessary - to counteract unfavorable patient reactions
• Maintains patient privacy in all matters in accordance with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Performs special procedures to include - but not limited to - administration of oral products such as glucola for glucose tolerance testing and obtaining specimens for forensic or medico legal purpose such as blood alcohols and drug testing
• Performs CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Act) waived complexity testing and submits it to a Clinical Laboratory Scientist for review and verification of results
• Receives samples and specimens of tissue - blood - urine - stool - sputum - and other body fluids
• Performs clerical duties related to handling of laboratory specimens - e.g
• conducting order entry and patient registration in reference lab information systems - accessioning specimens - receiving test results from reference laboratories - verifying for completeness - and checking for pending test results
• Sorts specimens based on testing location - needs - and priority for turnaround time
• Processes a wide variety of laboratory specimens for shipment to reference laboratories using procedures - test codes - requisition forms - and materials that conform to EPA (CFR 40) and OSHA (CFR 29) regulations
• Instructs the patient in the proper use of the specimen containers and the correct times of specimen collection
• Interacts with outlying clinic sites and hospital staff to educate and monitor compliance to specimen collection requirements and handling guidelines
• Researches test menu catalogs and/or verbally locates commercial laboratories capable of performing rare and unusual tests
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm - final schedule will be determined upon hire and needs of service Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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.