Health Technician
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Summary
The position is in the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Veterans' Health Administration, Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service. The multi-skilled Health Technician performs a wide range of funtions which include compliance to CLIA and The Joint Commission regulations for laboratory testing, clerical, and health technician functions. The Health Technician uses knowledge of technical methods and procedures to cary out a varitye of essential duties.
Learn more about this agencyOverview
- Accepting applications
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Open & closing dates
10/08/2024 to 12/06/2024
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Salary
$44,117 - $57,354 per year
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Pay scale & grade
GS 6
- Help
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
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Remote job
No
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Telework eligible
No
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Travel Required
Not required
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Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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Appointment type
Permanent
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Work schedule
Full-time
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Service
Competitive
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Promotion potential
None
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Job family (Series)
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Supervisory status
No
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Security clearance
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Drug test
Yes
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Position sensitivity and risk
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Trust determination process
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Financial disclosure
No
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Bargaining unit status
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Announcement number
CBSU-12563269-24-GL
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Control number
813209000
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
- Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of this agency.
Clarification from the agency
This job is open to current, permanent employees of the Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare systems as well as those applicants with CTAP eligibility. This is an Open Continuous Announcement with the first closing date of October 17, 2024; following the initial closing, applications will be reviewed every 1st and 15th of the month until vacancies are filled.
Videos
Duties
- Ensuring proper cleaning and performing minor maintenance of laboratory equipment; ensuring all quality control materials are run and acceptable daily or as required by regulations.
- Receiving patients for medical laboratory testing; processing orders and appointments; collecting specimens; contacting providers to correct order.errors or to place orders if patient arrives with no orders in the system.
- Working in close cooperation with Medical Officer of the Facility, ensuring effective medical treatment is provided to eligible veterans.
- Advising professional staff on center and lab policy and testing matters; notifying professional staff of administrative matters that require attention.
- Performing patient care procedures such as collection of lab specimens, applying dressings, and adjusting simple supportive equipment.
- Processing tissue cultures and specimen samples related to pathology testing which require difficult specialized procedures.
- Preparing patient for blood or urine collection according to CAP (College of American Pathologists) and The Joint Commission (TJC) guidelines, including accepting patient orders, printing labels, selecting proper tubes and containers, PPE, labeling specimens with all required information in front of the patient.
- Following proper patient preparation and venipuncture while following sterile collection techniques and bandaging patient appropriately following collection.
- Proper patient identification using two identifiers is an absolute must and a National Patient Safety requirement.
- Collecting blood must follow proper tube collection order and without contamination; collecting blood samples by venipuncture or arterial puncture and accurately labeling all blood tubes and other collection containers.
- Instructing patients on proper specimen collection procedures to ensure specimens are acceptable for testing.
- Collecting type and crossmatching specimens verifying the patient's identity; accurately completing required forms; ensuring proper collector identification on tube(s) and all forms; ensuring proper identification of a second verifier.
- Collecting microbiology specimens in support of the Veterans' Administration's initiative to reduce transmission of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
- Maintaining adequate quota of sterile and non-sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment; checking for outdated supplies/items.
- Preparing specimens to be sent to outside laboratories, including reference and sharing
laboratories, for testing not done at this laboratory; assuring proper specimen was
collected; recording in send-out book; putting specimen in proper receptacle; packaging
specimen to maintain the correct temperature during shipping; completing and checking paperwork; sending specimen to the correct laboratory; returned send-out results are entered into the computer and scanning program. - Receiving and accessions specimens from Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System
inpatients, outpatients; correctly accessions testing for referral and research
specimens; administers and collects specimens for employee drug screening program. - Solving technical specimen problems and discrepancies; maintaining QA databases; documenting problems and resolution.
- Managing CBOC packaging and shipping supply inventory, ensuring in-clinic availability of required materials for safe, legal transport of biological specimens to this laboratory for testing.
- Receiving all package deliveries to the laboratory, signing for receipt and acceptance of possession responsibility; evaluating specimen integrity; judging correctness of specimen type, quantity, age, and condition upon receipt; reconciling physical specimens received against printed manifest documents.
- Maintaining service staff records; ensuring proper certifications in accordance with CAP and TJC; assisting in supervision of clinical staff including training and competency assessments; monitors QC materials, proficiency testing and competencies for nursing, and provider Point of Care glucometer.
- Answers telephone calls; coordinates information and actions relating to patient care and services; assists patients, visitors, and others requesting information.
- Monitoring humidity and temperature charts for laboratory; reporting readings outside of normal compliance with regulatory standards.
- Sets-up necessary accessories or supplies; advises medical personnel of new equipment, accessories or supplies.
- Facilitates release of information from patient medical records; protects confidentiality of patient's medical records.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD14453-A and PD14453A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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
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 and/or education as described below:
Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) GS-06: All applicants must meet IOR for this position. Specialized experience that includes support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. This includes technician experience that required the application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory; OR,
Graduate education or an internship that are directly related to the work of the Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education; AND
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the Federal service in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Health Technician - Pathology and Laboratory. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: determining technical factors, setting controls, calibrating, and operating equipment and insturments such as an occult blood analyzer; proper cleaning of laboratory equipment; performing minor maintenance of laboratory equipment; accepting patient orders; printing labels; selecting proper tubes and containers; determining correct handling environment for each specimen submitted for referral laboratory testing; ensuring fire, safety, disaster and infection control procedures are implemented; instructing patients on proper specimen collection procedures; preparing specimens to be sent to outside laboratories; answering telephone calls; coordinating information and actions relating to patient care and services; using courtesy and sound business etiquette in all interactions; OR,
- Education: Applicants may substitute graduate education or an internship for the required experience provided the education or internship is directly related to the work of the position. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on education;
- Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
- Diagnostic Medical Testing
- Patient Care
- 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 and Work Environment: The work requires much walking through the clinic, with occasional requirements to lift objects, computer work and operating office equipment. The positions require the ability to process written and electronic information. The work requires the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally distressed patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity due to the fine skills of some of the point of care lab testing. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The incumbent may be required to commute between two outpatient clinics within the workweek, depending on the clinic workload. The work environment involves risks typically associated with performance of laboratory work. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions. Environment may involve infectious diseases, contact with or disposal of body secretions, verbal and physical abuse from emotionally distraught individuals and/or working around equipment
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/.
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
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.
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.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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.
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Cover Letter
- Disability Letter (Schedule A)
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing 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
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/06/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12563269.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides 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. CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Agency contact information
- Address
- VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System
1011 Honor Heights Drive
Muskogee, OK 74401
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.