Medical Technician

Summary

This position is in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System. The incumbent works in the Pathology and Laboratory Service and functions as a Medical Technician, performing key duties in the clinical laboratory and anatomic pathology. This position will service the Laredo Outpatient Clinic.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include, but not limited to: Performs a variety of clinical laboratory procedures, including pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic testing processes. Collects, processes, evaluates, and prepares patient specimens for laboratory testing and analysis. Performs phlebotomy and specialized specimen collection procedures, ensuring proper patient identification and specimen integrity. Operates, calibrates, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory instruments and equipment. Conducts quality control and quality assurance activities to ensure accurate and reliable test results. Identifies, investigates, and resolves specimen, testing, and equipment-related discrepancies. Provides technical guidance regarding laboratory testing procedures, specimen requirements, and test results. Processes and coordinates reference laboratory testing, including specimen preparation, documentation, and shipment. Performs ancillary and point-of-care testing in accordance with established policies and procedures. Delivers customer-focused service by collaborating with patients, healthcare providers, and interdisciplinary team members. Assists with training, competency assessment, inventory management, and continuous quality improvement initiatives. Ensures compliance with accreditation standards, safety regulations, infection control practices, and laboratory policies. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD53220F and PD53221F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English Language Proficiency: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. Certification: All Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations: (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) ASCP, Board of Certification. OR, ASCP, Board of Registry. (b) American Medical Technologists. OR, (c) 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic Requirements, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for each grade level. Medical Technician, GS-05: Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. None. Medical Technician, GS-06 Experience. 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. Preferred Experience: 1+ year of phlebotomy experience with all age groups. Advanced knowledge and understanding of medical terminology along with experience using healthcare information systems. Experience in specimen collection and processing across multiple disciplines, including in-house testing and reference laboratory testing. Advanced experience in phlebotomy services, including blood culture collection, H. pylori breath testing, glucose tolerance testing, and chain-of-custody drug testing. Experience performing point of care testing, including quality control and quality assurance procedures. Ability to communicate and collaborate with healthcare teams, external stakeholders, and patients while providing customer service and education. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (up to 40 lbs.); Heavy Carrying (up to 40 lbs.); Straight Pulling (1-2 hours); Pushing (1-2 hours); Reaching above shoulder (occasional); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (1 hour); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Sitting (up to 6 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted)

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/. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.