Health Technician

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Health Technician in the Core Laboratory Section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program.

The incumbent is responsible for performing multiple duties in the central accessioning and specimen processing area.

These complex duties include reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing, and outpatient Phlebotomy as necessary at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/03/2026.

Basic Requirements: GS-6: To be creditable for this position at the GS-06 level, applicants must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-05.

Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience for this position includes but is not limited to: 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 HIPPA 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.

OR, Education: One(1) semester or nine(9) credit hours of graduate education directly related to positions.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of graduate education and specialized experience.

The total percentage of specialized experience and education when added together must equal 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-G6, i.e.

3 credit hours and 8 months of specialized experience are equivalent to 1 year.

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.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting.

The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures.

Entering patient information, test orders, and data in a computer may result in physical problems form the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain.

The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients.

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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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/.

Major Duties:

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati, OH and Fort Thomas, KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue, KY; Florence, KY; Lawrenceburg, IN; Hamilton, OH; Clermont County, OH, and Georgetown, OH.

The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division.

Major Duties: Specimen Receipt and Processing - Receives and prepares requests for testing and specimens into the clinical laboratory and verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request.

Reference Laboratory Specimen Processing - Receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing.

Processes all reference laboratory specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity.

Maintains a record of all specimens submitted to the reference laboratories by printing accessioning forms and shipping manifests.

Orders supplies provided by the commercial reference including specimen containers, test requisitions, and computer supplies.

Community Based Outpatient Clinics Test Ordering Review - Serves as the primary contact person between Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the CBOC.

Reviews the shipping manifests form each CBOC on the next working day to ensure all specimens listed on the shopping manifest are accounted for.

Accesses the orders for each patient in VISTA and verifies that the types of test accessioned by the staff the previous day match the test ordered by the CBOC on the shipping manifest.

Monitors pending tests until the computer indicates that the tests are completed. Maintains a file of the shipping manifests for each CBOC.

Patient Care Testing Duties - Responsible for performing a limited amount of patient testing which includes but is not limited to urine pregnancy testing, and sed rates.

Responsible for Microbiology set-ups to include plating and accessing of microbiology samples from the floor and also from the CBOC.

Performs established quality control procedures to check the accuracy and validity of the test results. Accurately records and reports the test results in the VISTA computer system.

Collecting and Processing employee drug screens - Performs employee drug screen by the DHHS split specimen collection method and will maintain the change of custody for that sample.

Phlebotomy Duties - The incumbent draws blood from outpatients for requested laboratory test. Work Schedule: Various day shifts, rotating weekends and holidays per the needs of the service.

Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician / 05770A