Health Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Tulsa, OK is seeking a multi-skilled Health Technician within the Veterans Health Administration's Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System.

The role supports the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service with administrative functions and ensures compliance with CLIA and The Joint Commission regulations for laboratory testing. Responsibilities include patient preparation, specimen collection support, maintaining testing records, coordinating orders, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 24 semester hours relevant to the Health Technician position.
• Substitution of education for experience allowed per policy.
• Combination of education and experience considered for GS-06 grade.

Responsibilities

• Operate guidelines to determine technical factors and calibrate equipment.
• Maintain records for testing activities and point-of-care procedures.
• Prepare patients and supplies for testing; label specimens and ensure proper containers.
• Collect specimens or assist phlebotomy following sterile collection techniques.
• Ensure safety, infection control, and compliance with CAP/TJC standards.
• Prepare specimens for transport to outside laboratories when needed.
• Coordinate patient care information and respond to inquiries from staff and patients.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Patient care

Records management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or 24 semester hours related to the position

Six months graduate level education can substitute for experience

Job description

Summary

The position is in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - at the Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System VA Health Care System in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service - and is located in Tulsa - OK. The multi-skilled 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.

Summary

The position is in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - at the Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System VA Health Care System in the Pathology and Laboratory Medical Service - and is located in Tulsa - OK. The multi-skilled 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.

Qualifications

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The Health Technician - 0640 has a minimum qualification entry requirement. From the descriptions below - please identify how you meet the minimum qualifications for the Health Technician position. 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. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) - applicants must also meet the following grade requirements as outlined below: To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11/30/2026. You may qualify for the GS-05 based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS-5: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Performs routine phlebotomy procedures - including venipuncture - specimen collection - and dressing application.; Prepares patients - supplies - containers - labels - and protective equipment for testing procedures.; Handles specimens according to established procedures to support accurate testing.; Maintains records related to patient testing activities. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. (Transcripts required).. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond successful completion post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained at an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college - or university. (Transcripts required). You may qualify for the GS-06 based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Performs routine phlebotomy procedures - including venipuncture - specimen collection - and dressing application.; Prepares patients - supplies - containers - labels - and protective equipment for testing procedures.; Handles specimens according to established procedures to support accurate testing.; Maintains records related to patient testing activities. OR - Education: Education: Six months of graduate level education related to the position can be substituted for specialized experience. 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. (Transcripts required). Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the GS-05 requirement. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Operate guidelines to determine technical factors - sets controls - calibrates - and operates equipment and instruments such as occult blood analyzer Ensures proper cleaning and performs minor maintenance of laboratory equipment and adjust as needed
• Responsible for maintaining records for point of care testing and maintenance on laboratory machines
• Accepts patient orders - prints labels - selects proper tubes and containers - PPE - labels specimens with all required information in front of the patient
• collects blood following proper tube collection or and without contamination
• Determines the correct handling environment for each specimen submitted for referral laboratory testing and performs processing procedures which may be difficult - complex or non-standardized and may involve delicate and exacting steps working with specimens that may be irreplaceable such as tumor biopsy or aspirate
• Ensures fire - safety - disaster and infection control procedures are implemented by staff
• utilizes protective and supportive devices which comply with Personal Protective Equipment Infection Control Standards
• Processes tissue cultures and specimen samples related to pathology testing which require difficult specialized procedures
• Instructs patients on proper specimen collection procedures to ensure specimens are acceptable for testing
• Prepares specimens to be sent to outside laboratories - including reference and sharing laboratories - for testing not done at this laboratory
• assures the proper specimen was collected - records in the send-out book - puts specimen in the proper receptacle - packages specimen to maintain the correct temperature during shipping - completes and checks paperwork - and sends specimen to the correct laboratory
• Answers telephone calls - and coordinates information and actions relating to patient care and services
• assists patients - visitors - and others requesting information - guidance - or referral for special assistance
• Works cooperatively with a variety of individuals - including patients - staff - and visitors - always portraying a positive image and providing satisfactory customer service
• Uses courtesy and sound business etiquette in all interactions - whether interpersonal telephonic
• Performs patient care procedures such as collection of lab specimens - applying dressings - and adjusting simple supportive equipment
• Prepare patient for blood or collection according to College of American Pathologists(CAP) and The Joint Commission(TJC guidelines
• follows proper patient preparation and venipuncture while following sterile collection techniques and bandage patient appropriately following collection
• Performs patient care procedures such as collection of lab specimens - the proper collection and handling of various specimens including venous blood - instructs patients on proper specimen collection procedures to ensure specimens are acceptable for testing Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:30am - 5:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PDHealth Technician Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.