Medical Technician - Phlebotomy

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs—Western Colorado Health Care System seeks a Medical Technician to support the Phlebotomy and Specimen Receiving section within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service.

Duties include inventory and record control, accessioning, specimen collection guidance, processing, testing, storage, clerical tasks, shipping, and quality improvement activities, in addition to primary phlebotomy.

Qualifications

• Must be able to perform phlebotomy with human patients.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in medical laboratory support or closely related field.
• Transcript required for education substitution options when applicable.
• Combination of education and experience acceptable with transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Manage inventory and record control for the section.
• Accessioning, storage, and clerical tasks related to specimens.
• Provide specimen collection guidance and perform primary phlebotomy duties as needed.
• Process, test, and ship specimens; participate in quality improvement activities.

Skills

English proficiency

Phlebotomy experience

Education

Graduate education in related field

Job description

The Medical Technician serves within the Phlebotomy and Specimen Receiving section of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in the Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) and is responsible for inventory and record control, accessioning, specimen collection guidance, processing, testing, storage, clerical tasks, shipping of specimens, quality improvement activities, as well as performing primary phlebotomy duties to support patient care.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

The Selective Placement Factor for this position is:

Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients.

In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency and the Selective Placement Factor above, you must also meet one of the following:

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically 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-5 grade level. Specialized experience is: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week ~OR~
• SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successful completion of at least one-half year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, eighteen (18) semester hours should be considered as satisfying one (1) year of full-time requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~OR~
• COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of post-high school educationand experience, as described above. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)

Physical Requirements

The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, including standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, or carrying or lifting items such as specimen containers, supply boxes, phlebotomy equipment, etc. (up to 45 pounds and with assistance as needed). There may be special requirements for manual dexterity and coordination (i.e., hand/eye coordination or good color vision) to perform precise procedures such as venipuncture and specimen handling.

Work Environment

The work is performed in a combination of laboratory, outpatient clinics, inpatient units, patient bedside settings, etc. which may involve exposure to infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, odors, and electrical appliances/equipment. There is potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, needle stick injuries, and other hazards associated with specimen collection and handling. The incumbent follows standard safety precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize risk. The work environment may be fast-paced and occasionally stressful, especially when dealing with anxious, ill, or difficult patients, or when responding to urgent collection requests.

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/