This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) at the Sheridan VA Medical Center (SVAMC), located in Sheridan, WY and clinics in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service (PLMS). The multi-skilled Health Technician performs a wide range of administrative functions which includes compliance to CLIA regulations for laboratory testing, clerical, and health tech functions.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. In addition to the IOR, candidates must also meet one of the following requirements: GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Must be skilled at phlebotomy and prepare the patient for the blood or urine collection according to accreditation guidelines. Specialized experience includes: answering and directing phone calls; using a computer to perform administrative duties; reviewing scheduling of patient appointments, tests, and procedures; instructing patients and families the requirements of specimen collection requirements; performing occult blood testing; performing waived testing procedures; collecting, labeling, and packaging specimens such as blood and urine; stocking patient draw rooms while adhering to infection control procedures; using techniques to appropriately de-escalate disruptive patients; documenting electronic patient medical records. OR Substitution of Education experience required for the GS-06 level: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR Combination of Education and Specialized Experience to qualify at the GS-06 level: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education. PLEASE 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. (RESUME AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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.
Duties include but are not limited to: Answers telephone calls, and coordinates information and actions relating to patient care and services. Assists patients, visitors, and other requesting information, guidance or referral for special assistance. Receives patients for medical laboratory testing, processes orders and appointments, collects specimens and evaluates tests for processing determination. Collects, labels, processes, stores, and either ships specimens that require reference lab testing or deliver to laboratory area that performs tests that are outside of the Health Tech scope of testing or not performed at our facility. Responsible for point of care testing such as stool hemoccult and urine pregnancy. Responsible for scanning laboratory and pathology reports into the health record when needed and assist with compiling and tracking for the Tissue Committee. Stocks patient draw rooms while adhering to infection control procedures. Documents in electronic patient medical records. Maintains files and records. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 07:30 am -4:00 pm; with occasional 06:00 am-2:30 pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD13697A Physical Requirements: The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, standing, lifting up to 30 lbs. or more, walking, and stretching. The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, or bending to collect patient specimens. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, such as in a laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. Work Environment: The work environment involves risks typically associated with performance facility work. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks or discomforts that required special safety precautions. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory, e.g., working with infectious substances, (specimens capable of transmitting HIV and/or Hepatitis), contagious diseases, and irritant reagents. Follows appropriate safety guidelines, as established within the venipuncture and other clinical laboratory and radiology sections, including the wearing and changing of gloves, gowns or lab coats, and safety glasses/goggles, as instructed. Must be familiar with the various types of ward isolation procedures, and follows the hospital guidelines while drawing patients.