Summary The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Medical Technician. The Medical Technician will function in Community Outpatient Services. Responsibilities Responsible for phlebotomy and related duties. Assist the lead in conducting annual competencies and performing initial training in the section Moderate- to high-complexity testing, send-out handling in Community Outpatient Service at VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. Periodic nursing/hospital staff training in phlebotomy-related duties/functions. Field and log Physicians and Veteran customer complaints, performing client service support Advise Physicians on proper ordering protocols for patient care and fiscal efficiency based on established guidelines and experience. Medical Technician will perform add-on function for clinical sections of laboratory to include but not limited to: Chemistry, Immunology, and Special Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology. Report trends and perspective solution to supervisors Responsible for managing databases and reviewing / revising / suggesting procedures for the laboratory Order package and ship laboratory specimens for testing at reference laboratories Assess sample integrity by utilizing established evaluation techniques and sound judgment to ensure samples are suitable for laboratory testing. Evaluate the sample for but not limited to proper sample type, labeling, pH, lipemia, hemolysis and volume. Incumbent will contact ordering clinicians for clarification of ambiguous orders and give guidance on testing requirements Demonstrate the VA Core Values and Behaviors with each veteran encounter: I CARE principles and WE CARE behaviors Maintain clean, safe environment and use appropriate PPE as indicated Enforce safe laboratory processes and infection control practices Clean and maintain lab equipment, including the recalibration of equipment and quality control tests and audits as directed Promptly serve our veteran population with efficient laboratory processes Ensure patient privacy Maintain HIPAA and PHI compliance Maintain and order supplies as needed Respond appropriately to veteran's urgent medical needs within scope of practice Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: 93006-A, 93007-A. 92964-A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/24/2024. 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-04, GS-05 or GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade. 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. To Qualify for GS-04:You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: General experience is defined as experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform work of a Medical Technician, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the work required of a Medical Technician. .. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, OR 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, PLUS the successful completion of a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology (including serology) and that, in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients, OR have successfully completed 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that is directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. (Transcripts must be submitted). 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 a percentage of the experience required for the grade level by dividing your total months of qualifying experience by 12; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level by dividing your semester hours of undergraduate education by 60; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. (Transcripts must be submitted). To Qualify for a GS-05 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. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Medical Technician. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Medical Technician. Examples of specialized experience are as follows: a.) technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking), performing venipuncture for blood collection, processing laboratory specimen, utilizing a laboratory information system to input and/or retrieve data, 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 a Medical Technician Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. (Transcripts must be submitted).. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education: Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5. . To Quality for a GS-06: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Medical Technician. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Medical Technician. Examples of specialized experience are as follows: a.) technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking), performing venipuncture for blood collection, processing laboratory specimen, utilizing a laboratory information system to input and/or retrieve data, 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 a Medical Technician. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have graduate level education or an internship that is directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts must be submitted.) Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, or bending, walk to observe, collect, or record data. 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. 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/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.