Health Technician in Missoula, Montana

Summary The Health Technician (Phlebotomy) position is located within the Nursing, Ambulatory Care Service Line of the Montana VA Health Care System and is responsible for collecting, evaluating and processing patient specimens according to policy/procedure established by the service, health care system, VA and regulatory agencies. Responsibilities The Health Technician (Phlebotomy) performs a variety of functions to include accessioning specimens into the computer system; collecting, evaluating, and processing patient specimens; answering questions related to sample collection; instructing and assisting patients and sending out specimens for testing. Duties include, but are not limited to: Collects and processes blood and body fluid specimens, ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for the patient and the quality of the specimen with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising or required re sticks. Performs and exhibits knowledge and skills specific to the young adult, adult, and geriatric populations; provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served. Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results; makes sounds decisions independently and takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while collecting samples. Familiar with tests performed throughout the laboratory (i.e., chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, microbiology, and cytology); must be familiar with laboratory send-out tests, respective requirements, and requirements noted by the laboratories where they are performed. Processes all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity. Determines correct patient identification (i.e., patient’s name, full social security number); verifies proper tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn; labels all tubes with the patient’s name, full social security number, date, time and phlebotomist’s initials and re-identifies patient using full name and full social security number). Maintains a clean workspace and continuously monitors the area for contamination; follows procedures for properly decontaminating spills and the safe disposal of all contaminated materials. Receives and stores laboratory supplies to include documenting the receipt date on each item, verifying the storage requirement of each item by temperature requirement, and rotating stock to ensure the newest supply is in the back; check expiration date of all reagents and supplies. Serves as a resource person person and/or troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing VistA order entry and results options. Prepares lab appointment lists for Veterans at least one week ahead of schedule to ensure prompt attention to the patient when they present for specimen collection. Investigates missing or incomplete patient laboratory orders; contacts the nurse or provider involved to ensure missing or incomplete orders are placed or corrected prior to the patient presenting for sample collection. Performs blood collection duties in a courteous manner; makes the patient feel as comfortable as possible; explains what is about to happen and any necessary processes required of the patient for specimen collection. Assists in teaching laboratory and clinic personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, specimen collection, and specimen requirements. Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action; establishes priorities for emergency orders; notifies technologists of impending work. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD10174A Physical Requirements: The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching; requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 has a minimum qualification entry requirement: Specialized Experience: 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. OR, Education: 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, GS-5 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4 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: Skill in both oral/written communication to work effectively and diplomatically with clinic employees, patients and families; knowledge of various menus, options, procedures and equipment to use VistA and Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) computer programs; knowledge of policies and procedures as related to patient care; skill sufficient to recognize, report and assist in emergency situations; skill to observe and report physical or mental changes in patients; knowledge of test names that are ordered and their different synonyms; skill in venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain the required quantities of specimens needed for the variety of laboratory examinations performed; knowledge of anatomy, physiology, medications and effects of illness in order to provide patient care; skill in phlebotomy techniques, procedures and other specimen collection procedures, including the 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; knowledge of collection, processing and storage requirements and procedures for laboratory specimens. OR, Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-5 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a bachelor’s degree or four (4) years of education above the high school level with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-5 level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) to meet total experience requirements. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-5. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant’s criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant’s criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee’s credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.