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The Medical Technician performs duties as assigned in the clinical laboratory of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center serving 150 beds and about 500,000 outpatients annually. During clinic hours the laboratory is receiving over 120 samples per hour . The principle responsibility of this position is processing specimens including; computerized accessioning, centrifugation, aliquoting when appropriate, specimen acceptability determinations, delivery to the point of analysis. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023 or until this position is filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 30, 2023 and every Sunday until it closes. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/29/2023. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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: Specialized 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) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Oral Communication Teamwork 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: The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, standing, lifting, walking, stooping, repetitive motions, and stretching. This position is also considered high risk because of the constant exposure to blood and fluid products, sharps and chemicals, and patients in isolation rooms due to communicable disease. 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/. ["Specimen Receipt & Processing (30%) - Receives specimens into the laboratory area following all applicable policies and procedures. - Verifies patient identification and specimen labeling prior to acceptance into the laboratory. - Evaluates the suitability of each specimen for analysis, requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable. - Accessions tests into the laboratory computer system and ensures all applicable orders are utilized. - Processes samples as required following all applicable policies and procedures. Labels, relabels, and/or aliquots specimens when necessary. Instrument Operation & Maintenance & Testing (25%) - Operates all equipment including, but not limited to automation line, centrifuges, pneumatic tube system, dumbwaiter as designed and according to all applicable policies and procedures. - Performs maintenance on laboratory instrumentation routinely as assigned and according to all applicable policies, procedures, and manufacturers' guidelines. - Selects, develops, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections. - Ensures sound infection control practices are followed and that the correct personal protective equipment is used for tasks performed. - Safely disposes of all chemical and biohazardous waste materials in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. - Performs and completes all proficiency and competency testing to meet deadlines and with satisfactory performance. EHRM Change Agent (25%) - Provide programmatic advice, support, and assistance regarding the electronic health care system with a view towards accomplishing the accuracy of health care delivery in the presence of the new electronic system of documentation. - Interact with a wide variety of laboratory staff and health informatics staff demonstrating sensitivity to and an understanding of their needs by taking ownership of problems and adopting staff needs as their own. - Seek opportunities for program expansion by performing routine analysis of electronic health record implementation processes. - Participate and facilitate coordination and problem resolution. - Perform administrative tasks to support workflow of the EHRM team and laboratory staff. - Provide support and training to Send-Outs/Processing staff on the new electronic medical record system. Customer Service (12%) - Incumbent will accept incoming calls, answer questions, and provide information as able, and field and direct calls to the appropriate subspeciality laboratory area when necessary. - Provides information, guidance, and technical advice on test ordering, specimen collection and submission to clinical staff. - Maintains a positive attitude, willingness to work as part of a team and is supportive of coworkers. Collaborates and works well with others. - Able to respond and adapt to new processes, procedures, or equipment. Willing to make changes to improve service. - Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. - Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Send-Out Processing (8%) - Processes samples as required for reference laboratory testing. - Prepares shipping manifest as required for reference laboratory testing. - Packages specimens in accordance with all applicable policies, procedures, and regulations. - Contacts reference laboratory as necessary to inquire about specimen suitability, testing status, or results. - Researches the availability of unusual testing. - Orders appropriate supplies and materials as necessary for reference laboratory testing, packaging, and shipping. Work Schedule: Negotiable Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: 91880-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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