Health Technician

Location

Anchorage, AK | United States

Job description

Summary You will serve as a Health Technician (Phlebotomist/Processor) with the Anchorage VA Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Responsibilities You will perform phlebotomy and laboratory processing work. You will draw blood from outpatients for requested laboratory testing. You will properly collect, handle, label, accession, process, record, and deliver specimens while adhering to patient identification, safety, infection prevention, control policies, and universal precautions. You will assure that the proper tubes are used, and the correct amount of blood is drawn. You will perform special drawing techniques when needed. You will prepare the collection site and draw blood cultures. You will instruct patients in procedures to be followed prior, during, and after tests, preparing schedules for a patient to follow to obtain the correct blood specimens at the required time. You will collect chain of custody drug screens. You will be responsible for receiving and preparing test requests and specimens into the clinical laboratory and verifies the accuracy and completeness of the requests. You will access all test requests into the facility's computer system. You will recognize urgent testing situations and takes necessary action to direct the specimens to the proper location. You will have the ability to follow detailed instructions to operate various types of laboratory equipment, such as centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers, incubators, thermometers, timers, and eyewash stations. You will serve as the reference and processor for complex specialized tests. You will maintain a record of all specimens submitted to the reference laboratories by building, reviewing, and printing shipping manifests. You will perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD50400A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/14/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: receive and prepare laboratory test requests and specimens; enter all test data, requests, and results into a computer system; abide to safety, infection control, and universal precautions; properly process, transport, and store, and biological specimens; analyze biological specimens; prepare site and draw blood cultures; collect, handle, and deliver specimens; collect chain-of-custody drug screen specimens; instruct patient on specimen collection procedures; provide patient care in a laboratory setting; research and clarify test orders and results; maintenance of equipment, instruments, and inventory in a laboratory setting. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Diagnostic Medical Testing Specimen Collection Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing, and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Entering patient information, test orders, and data in a computer may result in physical problems form the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain. Laboratory instrumentation makes constant noises which could lead to hearing loss over long periods of exposure. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. The incumbent must have normal color vision. Work Conditions: The work involves moderate risks or discomfort associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurring exposure to hazards such as infectious materials, chemicals, electrical appliances, and loud noises. The incumbent takes special safety precautions and must use protective clothing and devises such as fluid resistant lab coats, gloves, face shields, eye protector, and safety shields in accordance with OSHA guidelines. The incumbent's dress and personal appearance should reflect the professional image of a healthcare worker. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and 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 1193.01, 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.

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