Medical Technician - Twin Falls, United States - Department of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

The position is in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) at the Boise VA Medical Center.

The incumbent performs a variety of functions, including accession specimens into computer system; collects, evaluates, and processes patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructs and assists patients; and sends out specimens for testing.

Follows policies and procedures established by service, medical center, VA, and regulatory agencies.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

04/24/2024 to 05/08/2024

• Salary

$39,576 - $51,446 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 5

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Twin Falls, ID
• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -* Work schedule

Full-time -* Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0645 Medical Technician

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSV SW

• Control number

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Federal employees - Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees - Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities
• Land & base management

Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

• Military spouses
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Special authorities include:
Former overseas employees and foreign service employees. Clarification for these authorities is provided in the questionnaire.

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Duties


Major duties include:

• Collects and processes specimens obtained for analyses throughout P&LMS and associated reference laboratories, ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for the patients and the quality of the specimen.
• Performs venipuncture specimen collections from inpatient, outpatients, and ambulatory inpatients, with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required re-sticks, ensuring that samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with the least possible delay.
• Makes gross visual observations and identifies subtle changes regarding the patient's condition, notifying appropriate emergency personnel as needed.
• Performs work related to tests and examinations using the techniques of medical laboratory practice in one or more specialized areas.
• Prepares specimens for testing, such as labeling, centrifugation, decanting, aliquoting, etc., prepares reagents, performs the test procedure, verifies the accuracy of the results and reports results in the VISTA computer system.
• The technician must be familiar with tests performed throughout the Laboratory, i.e., cytology, chemistry, and hematology.
• Operates centrifuges, reporting any malfunction to supervisor, as needed, and evaluates temperature requirements of refrigerators on the wards as needed.
• Processes timely request for supplies to ensure adequate materials are always maintained.
• Receives and sorts specimens collected from inpatients, outpatients, and all CBOC's, checks request slips for proper information, logs in specimen, and delivers specimens to various laboratory sections.
• Receives accessioning and processing of laboratory specimens from the main draw room, emergency department (ED), ward collect specimens, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Home Base Health Care (HBHC) patient draws.
• Verifies the accuracy of information on each specimen, accessions (receives) each specimen into the computer system, prints and accurately labels each specimen.
• Manually accessions (multi-purpose accessioning) any specimen(s) received with a written laboratory requisition.
• Sorts all specimens by laboratory department and distributes specimens to corresponding testing area (i.e., Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Send Out (Reference Laboratory).
• Generates (document) occurrence reports for any specimen(s) rejected for analysis (i.e., unlabeled, mislabeled, clotted, QNS, or other reasons for rejections).
• Performs computer downtime operations when the EHR is not operational; manually enters all patient information found in the computer down time form, test orders, and generates labels; labels, sorts, and delivers all specimens to designated testing areas of the lab; and diligently reorders laboratory tests in the EHR system for all patients once the EHR system becomes operational.
• Observes and processes employee drug screen testing.
• Enters pathology biopsy specimens form hospital and clinics, into the laboratory computer reporting system, prepares specimen cassettes, and prepares bar code labels for specimens.
• Responsible for receiving Microbiology specimens.
• Prepare gram stains on specimens when appropriate.
• Loads blood culture bottles into the Vitek Blood Culture Incubator.
• Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions as directed by the Technologist on duty.
• Performs instrument maintenance for PCR analyzer.
• Performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system for waived testing.
• Responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of all centrifuges and serofuges in the service.
• Processes send out specimens and stores specimens according to specimen storage requirements (i.e., ambient, frozen, or refrigerated).
• Trouble shoots issues on the automated instrument and work independently to be assigned to operate the automated instrument.
• Conducts training for new laboratory medical technicians, new medical laboratory technologists (MT)/chemistry staff and medical technologist students on how to operate and trouble-shoot the chemistry automated processing instrument.

Work Schedule:
Monday-Thursday 7:00am-4:30pm & Friday 7am-11am

Telework:
This is not a telework position.

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.


Position Description/PD#:
Medical Technician/PD60447A


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 05/08/2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a GS position in the last 52 weeks must also meet the time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants who are current Federal employees may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

For a GS-5 position you must have held at least a GS-3 in the last 52 weeks. 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.

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.

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-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

collects and processes specimens obtained for analyses, performs venipuncture specimen collections from patients, process samples , prepare for shipment to reference labs, Verifies sample collection, patient identification, and sample transport requirements.

Performing various technical laboratory procedures such as computer test access, computer search for past and future patient lab orders.


NOTE:

Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position.

NOTE:
Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Please see education section for details. OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and college level education beyond the second year (60 semester hours) to qualify. To determine if you meet this requirement, total your qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5.

NOTE:
Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Please see education section for details.


Preferred Experience:

• 1 year of phlebotomy/blood draw experience.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Clerical
• Compliance
• Computer Skills
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

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:
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:

NOTE:
Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).

VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.

If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Physical Requirements:
Physical demands will involve minimal lifting, long periods of standing, walking, bending, or sitting. The incumbent must have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to perform safe venipuncture procedures. Lifting will not exceed a weight of 30 pounds.

The incumbent must fully utilize all safety practices and equipment provided by the medical center, and in compliance with local and accrediting agency requirements.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

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Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary

/Rank etc.

• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
• References, current or recent supervisor

Recommended:

Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications.

To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Narrative responses are not required at this time.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy:
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.