The Medical Laboratory Technician is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the Twin Ports VA Clinic in Superior, WI, within the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. The incumbent performs a variety of functions including accessioning specimens into computer system; collecting, evaluating and processing patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructing and assisting patients; and preparing specimens to be sent to reference labs. 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-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. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: (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. This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical Thinking Customer Service Diagnostic Medical Testing 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: The employee works indoors in an environment involving everyday risks or discomforts which require safety precautions typical of a laboratory. Observance of normal safety practices within the lab involves proper use of equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations is required. Personal protective equipment is worn as required. 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/. ["Major duties include, but are not limited to: Collects blood samples from patients in wards and/or in the outpatient blood drawing area using proper technique; Follows procedures for patient identification, sample procurement, and specimen labeling; Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients; Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container; Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained; Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques; Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting, aliquoting, specimen processing, and staining, etc.; Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures; Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel; Performs standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time, occult blood, urine dipstick, pregnancy test, fingerstick glucose; Processes specimens following established procedures and prepares reagents; Triages and prioritizes different types of specimens such as HPV testing, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry; Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and arrests; Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; daytime hours, tour of duty to be discussed during interview process Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Laboratory Technician/PD60697A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: YES! - May be authorized for highly qualified/eligible applicants! Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
