NOTE: This announcement has been extended. Applicant(s) who previously applied, do not need to re-apply. This position is located in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Medical Technician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which all applicants must met. Specialized Experience (GS-05): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., GS-04). 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. At this level (i.e., GS-05), 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. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week.) OR, Education (GS-05): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 appropriate to the position to be filled (Medical Technician). NOTE: One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) OR, Combination (GS-05): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 2 years (i.e., the first 60 semester hours) above high school with courses related to the occupation (i.e., Medical Technician). (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) In addition to the requirements above, the following is also required: 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 requirement 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. 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: Physical demands may involve lifting, standing, walking, bending, or sitting, any of which may be required for prolonged periods of time. The incumbent must be able to communicate verbally and have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to perform safe venipuncture procedures. Lifting will not exceed weight of 40 pounds. The incumbent will utilize all safety practices and equipment required by the laboratory, facility policy, accrediting and regulatory agencies for purposes of ensuring compliance with occupational safety requirements. 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/. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** 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. The Medical Technician functions as a technical and customer service resource for customers utilizing laboratory services. Major duties include but are not limited to: Receives all specimens coming into the laboratory and determines if specimen meets laboratory specimen acceptability criteria Functions as a computer resource, either in person or by phone troubleshooting problems that clerks or providers may encounter while placing laboratory orders Functions as a reception of patients in the outpatient phlebotomy area, verifying and ensuring positive patient identification Collects blood by venipuncture, utilizes rigid patient identification verification methods for the purpose of providing acceptable samples for clinical laboratory analysis Determines which tubes to utilize with the appropriate anticoagulant for each test to be performed Collects blood samples according to detailed and well documented guidelines and protocol Utilizes all available computer hardware and software to the fullest extent to minimize risk of error Follows procedures outlined in the safety and infection control manuals of handling blood and body fluids, keeps work area clean, uncluttered and decontaminated Monitors all equipment, determines which sample require sending out to reference laboratories Performs routine waived testing including fecal occult blood testing, first checking quality control standard, etc. Provides physicians, nurses, medical students, phlebotomy students, and new employees the theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, specimen collection, handling and specimen requirements Performs all other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 2:30 pm or 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
