The position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System (OKC VAHCS) and community care clinics in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service (P&LMS). The Health Technician performs a wide range of administrative functions which include compliance to CLIA and The Joint Commission regulations for laboratory testing, clerical and health technician functions. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement: This series has the following Individual Occupational Requirement: 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 is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-6 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) 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. Specialized experience includes: knowledge of clinic organization, functions, specialties and programs such as social work, nursing laboratory, supply business offices function, etc.; knowledge of medical resources in surrounding community; knowledge of medical and technical terminology; knowledge of applicable public laws, (College of American Pathology regulations); knowledge of medical and administrative records systems, Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act and HJPPA as it relates to release of information on patients and protecting the privacy of patient information; knowledge of critical lab values and the procedure for documentation of follow-up care; and ability to collect blood by venipuncture, label, process, store, and ship specimens that require reference lab testing or delivery to another laboratory area that performs tests. OROne(1) semester or nine(9) credit hours of graduate education directly related to positions NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. 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. ["Major Duties of this position include but are not limited to... Adjusts equipment of laboratory testing, set up all necessary accessories and supplies regarding laboratory testing; ensures proper cleaning and minor maintenance of laboratory equipment Informs the Team of critical changes in testing status and lab values Ensures that all quality control materials are run and acceptable daily or as required by regulations; runs any proficiency specimens correctly and within required timeframe Maintains all records for lab certification, point of care testing, and maintenance on laboratory machines, assigning proficiency tests, and monitors all survey results Collects, labels, processes, stores, and either ships specimens that require reference lab testing or delivers to laboratory area that performs tests that are outside of the Health tech scope of testing or not performed at VA facilities Monitors and documents temperature and humidity of room and equipment, refrigerators instruments etc. Performs daily, monthly maintenance as required and documents such appropriately Organizes work so that efficiency is paramount and work area is neat, tidy, and meets all regulatory requirements for sanitization required for laboratory certification Receives and accessions specimens from Oklahoma City VA Health Care System inpatients, outpatients, outside laboratories, other VA Medical Centers, and research studies; correctly accessions testing for referral and research specimens ensuring that billing is accurate for financial recapture Collects blood samples by venipuncture and accurately labels all blood tubes and other collection containers. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD12996A Physical Requirements: The work requires much walking through the clinic, with occasional requirements to lift objects, computer work and operating office equipment. The position requires the ability to process written and electronic information and the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally distressed patients; above average agility and dexterity is required due to the fine skills of some of the point of care lab testing. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The incumbent may be required to commute between two outpatient clinics within the workweek, depending on the clinic workload."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
