The Pathology & Laboratory Service of the VA Medical Center in Northport, NY is currently recruiting for one Health Technician Position. The Health Technician performs a range of clerical, technical, administrative, patient care, and general clinic support functions.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/15/2025. 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: performing both clerical and clinical duties in a medical/healthcare environment; answering and directing phone calls; scheduling appointments; documenting medical records; and taking and recording vital signs. (This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit) 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 full 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 for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate 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 or technical school. (Transcripts required.) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. (Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit). 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/. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. Physical Demands: The work requires extensive periods of standing and walking, regular and recurring bending, moderate lifting, stooping and stretching. Work Environment: The work area is well lighted, heated and ventilated. The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks of exposure to infectious materials which require special safety precautions. There is contact with potentially biologically hazardous specimens (some of which may contain hepatitis or HIV virus). There is frequent contact with patients with undiagnosed illnesses and the employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease. Employees are mandated to use appropriate personal protective equipment. Standard Precautions must be taken to protect self and others from contamination. Incumbent is required to wear/use personal protective equipment or gear such as gloves, coats, and masks according to regulatory agencies.
Major duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to: Collects and processes specimens obtained for analyses; Performs venipuncture specimen collections from inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory inpatient with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required resticks; Uses standard aseptic procedures and safeguards; Checks patients into the phlebotomy area taking care to follow protocol; Checks orders by looking into the computer 30 days before and after the date of arrival and ensures that only authorized medical personnel have requested tests; Generates labels to match the test requisition slips, the electronic request, and the patient's identification; Explains procedures to patients; Monitors and maintains all centrifuges and serofuges in the service; Receives and stores laboratory reagents and supplies; and Accessions laboratory tests via the use of Vista. DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Work Schedule: Full-time, rotating days, 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD21269A Virtual: This is not a virtual position.