This position is located in the Laboratory and Pathology Service at Veterans Affairs (VA) San Diego Health Care System - Jennifer Moreno VA Medical Center in San Diego, CA. The Medical Technician performs specimen collection, processing, accessioning and waived testing in one of the facilities . 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level, you must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level, 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. 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, 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. ~OR~ 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 appropriate to the position to be filled. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and specialized experience, as described above. Note: only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) 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. 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: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, sitting over a microscope and concentrate for long periods of time while reading specimens and to stand for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens, in many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires lifting of reagent containers weighing up to thirty five (35) pounds. 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*** Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Setting up equipment for all phlebotomy procedures, making sure that all phlebotomy and ancillary equipment is functioning to standard. Maintaining the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies, and laboratory stock and orders materials. Conducting work according to Laboratory Safety Regulations and instructing coworkers and graduate students on safety policies and procedures. Maintaining and controlling laboratory records and presenting the data to the supervisor in a logical and systematic fashion. Recording information pertaining to the storage of specimens or reagents and completing appropriate tracking/inventory system information. Performing all clerical duties required of the position, including work lists, logs, and pending lists. Providing orientation/training in performance of phlebotomy and test procedures. Performing venipunctures in accordance with facility and laboratory policies and procedures. Assuring all test tubes are labeled accurately when performing venipuncture using facility and laboratory designated patient identifiers. Verifying correct patient identification, performing proper specimen handling and labeling, accessioning specimens, checking that lab test requests are consistent with physician orders, generating labels and sorts labeled specimens to be distributed to specific laboratory sections. Performing work in the testing and examination procedures carried out in the laboratory. Performing the full range of routine and emergency waived testing procedures such as glucose monitoring, urine pregnancy, occult blood testing. Performs urine drug testing collections in accordance with facility and laboratory policies and procedures. Selecting, performing, evaluating and monitoring the performance of test procedures both manually and on testing equipment. Ensuring safe and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for the donor and for the quality of the specimen while using standard aseptic procedures and safeguards. Preparing slides, smears, cultures, etc., of extremely delicate or otherwise volatile specimens. Using a high degree of laboratory expertise to determine the validity of results and the potential causes for invalid results. Performing other related duties as assigned. 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. Phlebotomy License Preferred. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday including Weekends and Holidays rotation; 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.