Health Technician (Phlebotomy)

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

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Health Technician (Phlebotomy) at the Appleton CBOC, aligned with the VA Medical Center - Milwaukee. Primary duties include blood collection, specimen processing, and ensuring accurate labeling and testing workflows.

Responsibilities encompass patient care, order verification, and collaboration with lab and clinical staff in a busy outpatient setting.

Qualifications

• Specialized phlebotomy knowledge and practice.
• Experience with specimen handling and lab procedures.
• Understanding infection control and cross-contamination prevention.

Responsibilities

• Answers incoming calls and relays information to staff.
• Performs venipuncture to obtain blood specimens.
• Verifies test orders and prioritizes urgent requests.
• Assists phlebotomy staff with training and guidance.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Specimen processing

Laboratory procedures

Infection control

Patient care

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Phlebotomy equipment

Job description

Summary

The incumbent performs accessioning - phlebotomy - processing of specimens and diagnostic testing duties at the Appleton CBOC. The position is aligned under the Primary Care Division of the VA Medical Center - Milwaukee.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/22/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge - skill - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-5 Health Technician (Phlebotomy) position - and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable - this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service to qualify at the GS-5 level. Specialized Experience includes but is not limited to: Appropriate use of collection tubes - minimum volume requirements - specimen processing and transportation conditions - testing procedures and requirements - and phlebotomy procedures/techniques. Following the established guidelines for rejecting specimens submitted to the laboratory and "Unable to Obtain" specimens. Knowledge of packaging and shipping of laboratory specimens guidelines. Aware of special requirements in dealing with potentially hostile psychiatric patients - the seriously ill patient - and those patients with communicable infections and diseases. Knowledge of infection control aseptic and sterile techniques to prevent cross contamination. OR GS-5 Education: Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position.Transcripts Required OR Combination of Education and Experience GS-5: Combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the 2nd year/60 semester hours) AND specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level.Transcripts Required 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

• Answers incoming calls - finds and relays information or refers the caller to the appropriate technical personnel
• Performs routine and specialized venipuncture of outpatients in order to obtain blood specimens for laboratory testing
• Assigns priority to test requests
• Explains diagnostic procedures and collection procedures - position patients for desired results
• Receives all requests for testing within the diagnostic section
• Verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request
• Establishes priorities for emergency orders
• Notifies the technical staff of pending work
• Provides assistance with the training and guidance in phlebotomy techniques to LPNs - RNs - students - and/or new phlebotomy employees rotating through the blood collection area
• Accepts and enters all requests for diagnostic testing into the hospital computer system using the computerized medical record - laboratory - radiology and diagnostic menus and 200 computer codes
• Accesses/registers diagnostic orders and generates computer-printed labels
• Documents and reviews collection problems
• Receives specimens delivered to the laboratory for analysis
• Evaluates each specimen and laboratory order to ensure that the specimens are properly obtained and appropriate for the test(s)
• Rejects unacceptable specimens and refers questions to the technical staff
• Ensures accurate patient and specimen identification using armband - Social Security number - and picture identification card
• Verifies the patient identification with the request and labels nil tubes according to established policies and procedures
• Processes specimens including centrifuging - allocating and storage of the sample
• Processes - packages and ships specimens to the reference laboratories
• Performs limited laboratory tests - inclusive glucose tolerance tests
• Maintains phlebotomy area physical facilities and equipment
• Performs quality control and preventive maintenance functions
• Maintains storage and inventory of phlebotomy and diagnostic working supplies
• Determines technical factors - sets controls and operates equipment and instruments
• Sets and modifies operational parameters for equipment with few operating functions
• Reports equipment malfunctions to supervisor
• Recognizes abnormalities and brings them to the attention of the ordering provider
• Records results in the permanent record
• Performs standard diagnostic procedures which include electrocardiograms
• Operates - calibrates and maintains instruments and accessories used to assist with or perform standard diagnostic procedures
• Performs direct patient care duties in the laboratory und the clinic by directing - instructing - and assisting patients with specimen collection and hospital processing
• Maintains records and files related to the diagnostic area
• Collects data required for Performance Improvement monitors - participates in quality assurance tasks within the team or part of a multidisciplinary team
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 8:00am to 4:30pmVirtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Phlebotomy)/PD25364A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized