Health Technician - Specimen Processing

Full Job Description

Employee will serve as a Health Technician - Specimen Processing within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the New York Harbor Healthcare System in Brooklyn, NY.

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT): A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position.

Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

The SPF for this position is: Applicant must have experience in specimen handling and processing and not specimen collection.

Examples of this experience includes knowledge of what the specimen requirement is for the requested testing; knowledge of storage, handling and processing requirements and what areas of the laboratory the testing is performed; knowledge of requirements of packaging and shipping specimens to laboratories and how to look up reference laboratory tests and specimen requirements.

In addition to the above, applicant(s) must meet at least one of the following minimum qualification requirements.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one full year of specialized 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.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5 in the Federal service.

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.

Specialized experience includes accessioning, labeling, and aliquoting lab specimens; operating laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators/freezers and using computer software programs/databased to provide administrative support for the lab (e.g., maintaining lab records; filing, scanning, label printing; etc.).

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully complete Six months of Graduate education or an internship to meet the specialized experience required.

Education is creditable only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience are also qualifying.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: the work is primarily sedentary, but requires standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying light items. Requires above average agility and dexterity.

May require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. Requires handling moderately heavy contaminated waste up to 40 pounds.

Must utilize all safety practices and equipment required by accrediting and regulatory agencies for purposes of ensuring compliance with occupational safety observance.

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:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The purpose of this position is to perform specimen handling and processing that includes applying knowledge of what the specimen requirement is for the requested testing; knowledge of storage, handling and processing requirements and what areas of the laboratory the testing is performed; knowledge of requirements of packaging and shipping specimens to laboratories and how to look up reference laboratory tests and specimen requirements.

Duties may include, but may not be limited to the following: Receives delivered specimens and accessions into the computer system, using both automated and manual methods/do.

Accessions and properly handle specimens to prepare for testing and packaging and shipping to reference laboratories, and those sent between campuses; create and maintain manifests.

Creates and maintains manifests. Distributes specimens. Provides technical, specialized and support assistance to health and medical personnel related to specimens.

Instructs/assists patients, physicians, and providers on specimen requirements.

Ensures adequate usage of equipment, includes maintenance and documentation of centrifuges, refrigeration, freezers, eyewashes, etc.) Troubleshoots specimen discrepancies according to specimen requirements.

Aliquots and store sample according to specimen integrity. Performs cleaning, disinfection, and organization of work areas, including restocking the lab areas.

Provides clerical/administrative support for the service (e.g., maintain lab records; filing, scanning; label printing; etc.). Perform other duties, as necessary.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. May be required to work irregular tours as scheduled by the supervisor.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved