Career Center

The Health Technician (Phlebotomist) works in the Laboratory Service at COPC (Chattanooga Outpatient Clinic) with Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. The incumbent will work under the general supervision of the general supervision of the Laboratory Supervisor or his/her designee in his/her absence. The technician has direct contact with patients and must create an atmosphere of trust and confidence while explaining the blood drawing specimen process in a skillful, safe and accurate manner. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): 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. In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must meet the specialized experience or education requirement listed below: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) full year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-4, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes work in performing the duties listed on the announcement as a non-professional nursing care, work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility. Examples of required experience includes, but is not limited to: performing standard procedures such as taking and labeling specimens for the laboratory, venipuncture for collection of blood specimens; explaining procedures and positions patient; providing limited orientation to staff regarding equipment and instruments used by position; maintains administrative and clinical files and schedules procedures, coordinating with other services; performing administrative tasks such as maintaining control records and providing basic medical information for patient and caregivers. OR, Substitution of 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. (A legible copy of transcripts with date the degree was conferred, coursework with grades and hours earned must be submitted with your application.) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. (A legible copy of transcripts with date the degree was conferred, coursework with grades and hours earned must be submitted with your application.) 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. 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/. ["The Health Technician (Phlebotomist) responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Answers Incoming calls for Laboratory Services. Quickly finds and relays accurate information or refers the caller to technical personnel. Performs disposition of add-on orders. Functions as a resource person--and troubleshooter- for clinic personnel in executing order entry options. Prepares referral-specimens for shipment. Contacts physicians/nursing staff for missing lab orders. Packages and ships specimens in proper containers. Maintains fifes of computer printed order entry forms. Distributes supplies to phlebotomy area. Receives all requests for testing into the laboratory. Verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request. Interacts with clinic personnel to correct discrepancies. Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action. Establishes priorities for emergency orders. Notifies technologists of impending work. Accepts or enters all requests Into the clinic computer system. Uses both order entry and laboratory computer options. Receives all samples for testing into the laboratory. Verifies proper patient preparation, sample collection, and sample transport requirements for all laboratory tests. Makes sound decisions independently, and takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems. Uses and performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers. Draws blood from COPC outpatients tor requested laboratory tests. This includes using special drawing techniques and assuring that proper tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn. Verifies the patient as the individual denoted on the request and labels. Performs blood drawing duties in a courteous manner. Makes the patient feel as comfortable as possible. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood. Assists in teaching laboratory and medical center personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, specimen collection, and specimen requirements. Must be able to respond to, report. and assist In emergency situations. Must know first aid procedures for the care of patients who become sick, arrest, or faint while having blood drawn. Observes and reports any physical or mental changes while patients are being drawn. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 12:30pm\nPosition Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD07537A and PD70200A\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required for this position"]