The Health Technician is assigned to Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Western New York Healthcare System and reports directly to Outpatient Laboratory Supervisory Medical Technologist.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/13/2025 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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: one (1) year of specialized experience which has equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes: understanding policies and procedures as related to patient care; performing phlebotomy techniques, procedures and other specimen collection procedures; setting up equipment for all phlebotomy procedures; instructing patients in the proper procedures to follow prior, during and after test; preparing referral specimens for shipment; performing all clerical duties; and maintaining records of procedures. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the high school level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Infection Control Quality Management Specimen Collection 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 some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring standing, walking, bending or lifting. The work requires heavy lifting of equipment or patients. In may situations, the duration of the activity contributes to the arduous natures of the job. 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/.
Receives all specimens delivered to the laboratory for processing Accessions all specimens into the computer system, using both automated and manual methods/downtime. Transports specimens from the collection site to the respective department for testing. Answers questions relative to patient specimens and tests requested. Instructs and assists patients, physicians, and providers on specimen requirements. Ensures adequate usage of equipment and maintenance of all required records. The health tech will also trouble shoot all specimen type discrepancies according to specimen requirements. Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:30am to 5:00pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD09299A