Medical Technician

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Major Duties

- Collects blood specimens from inpatients, outpatients, and emergency room patients using vacutainer, syringe, butterfly, or capillary techniques. - Performs venipuncture with minimal patient bruising, failures, or required re-sticks. - Adapts collection methods based on patient age, condition, or special needs (e.g., pediatric or geriatric patients). - Provides clear instructions to patients for self-collected specimens like 24-hour urine or stool samples. - Maintains aseptic techniques and uses personal protective equipment during all collections. - Verifies specimen labeling matches orders to ensure accuracy and prevent errors. - Handles difficult draws (e.g., frail veins) using professional judgment and alternative techniques. - Verifies specimen suitability (e.g., volume, condition) and requests redraws if inadequate. - Distributes specimens to appropriate lab sections (e.g., hematology, microbiology) efficiently. - Packages specimens for transport, adhering to DOT and IATA regulations for hazardous materials. - Troubleshoots and repairs instrumentation. - Documents test results in VISTA or electronic health record systems accurately. - Ensures proper technique to avoid erroneous results (e.g., INR for anticoagulant patients). - Cleans and maintains lab equipment (e.g., centrifuges, analyzers) per infection control guidelines. - Participates in team meetings, providing input on workflow improvements.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. - Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. - Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations: American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists, or American Association of Bioanalysts. - Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend. - Foreign Education: Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c. - English Language Proficiency: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations

- Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-05: None beyond the basic requirements. - Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-06: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: knowledge of MLT principles, practices, concepts and theories for sound independent work; knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems; ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation; ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments; ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results; ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions; ability to consult with other members of the health care team, patients and external customers.

Physical Requirements

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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

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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law.