Summary

Position is in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Montana Fort Harrison Laboratory. Incumbent performs a variety of functions: Accessioning specimens into computer system; collecting - evaluating -and processing specimens; answering questions related to sample collection; instructing and assisting patients; sending out specimens for testing; following policies and procedures established by the service - medical center - the Veterans' Administration (VA) - and regulatory agencies.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/05/2025. GS-05 grade level: All applicants for this position must meet one of the following Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for further consideration: Specialized Experience (for positions GS-4 and above): 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 that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled.OR - Education and Training: For GS-5: 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. AND - In addition to the IOR - for this series and grade - applicants must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade - GS-04; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities 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. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Communication skills; thorough knowledge of VistA and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS); knowledge of policies and procedures related to patient care; knowledge and skill is sufficient to recognize - report and assist in emergency situations; knowledge and skills to observe and report physical or mental changes in a patient; knowledge of tests' names that are ordered and their different synonyms; skill in venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain required quantities of specimens needed for laboratory examinations; knowledge of anatomy - physiology - medications - and effects of illness in order to provide patient care; knowledge and skills in phlebotomy techniques - procedures and other specimen collection procedures - including use of Vacutainer Collection System - safety needles - syringes and butterfly needles - capillary puncture techniques and use of microtainers; knowledge of infection control - safety - disaster - exposure control - chemical - hand hygiene and infection control plans and universal precaution procedures; and - knowledge of collection - processing and storage requirements - and procedures for laboratory specimens; OR - Education and/or Training: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - if required. For GS-5 level positions - only education more than the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study - or 60 semester hours - beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience and/or the completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs - training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces - and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis - generally through the GS-5 level. Such training meets general or specialized experience requirements depending upon its applicability; OR - Combining Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements - then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. 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

• Phlebotomy Duties: - Incumbent collects and processes blood and body fluid specimens - ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for patient and quality of the specimen with minimal number of failures - patient bruising - or required re-sticks
• involves correct patient identification
• verifies proper tubes are used and correct amount of blood is drawn
• labels all tubes with the patient's name - full social security number
• date - time and phlebotomist's initials - Performs blood collection duties in courteous manner
• makes patient feel comfortable
• explains what is about to happen and any processes required of the patient for specimen collection
• - Adheres to safety - infection control and universal precautions at all times while collecting samples - including wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• proficient in the area of phlebotomy
• must develop essential speed required to complete blood drawing duties
• - Must be familiar with tests performed throughout the laboratory - i.e
• chemistry - Immunohematology - urinalysis - coagulation - microbiology - and cytology
• must be familiar with multitude of laboratory send-out tests - respective requirements - and requirements noted by the laboratories where they are performed
• - Must be familiar with the Vista and CPRS computer systems
• - Responsible for special blood drawing procedures to include but not limited to: a) collecting timed specimens for growth hormone - peak and trough drug levels - glucose and lactose tolerance specimens
• b) collecting blood cultures using aseptic technique and
• c) urine collection in accordance with the Federal Workplace Drug Testing Program as administered and regulated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for drug testing of new employees
• - Instructs patients in sterile midstream urine collection - 24 hour urine collection - and collection of stool specimens for culture and sensitivity - ova and parasites and occult bloods
• - Assists in teaching laboratory and clinic personnel phlebotomy - specimen collection and specimen requirements
• - Must be able to respond to - report and assist in emergency situations
• must know CPR and First Aid procedures.- Provides care based on physical - psychosocial - educational - safety and related criteria appropriate to age of patients served
• - Maintains clean workspace and continuously monitors area for contamination
• procedures for properly decontaminating spills and safe disposal of all contaminated materials must be understood and followed at all times
• Clerical Duties - Functions as a resource person and troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing VistA order entry and results options
• reviews orders in CPRS
• -Investigates missing or incomplete patient laboratory orders and ensures missing or incomplete orders are placed or corrected prior to patient presenting for sample collection
• Accessioning and Processing Duties - Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action
• establishes priorities for emergency orders
• - Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results
• processes all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity
• - Incumbent is responsible for receiving and storage of Laboratory supplies
• required to check expiration date of all reagents and supplies in the room temperature storage room for sequestering the item - and notifying the supervisor of the findings
• Work Schedule: Tour of duty varies depending on the needs of the Service Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Phlebotomy/PD10174-A and PD10174A Physical Requirements and Environment: Work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time - bending - lifting - walking - stooping - and stretching
• Work requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration
• Work is performed in community-based clinic with daily exposure to patients and materials carrying infectious diseases and hazardous chemicals
• Proper precautions are practiced
• The technician wears protective clothing such as lab coats and gloves when working with specimens
• There is frequent contact with patients with undiagnosed illnesses
• The employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease.