The Medical Technician position is assigned to Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Veterans Integrated Services Northwest Network (VISN 7), Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, in Atlanta, GA. The Medical Technician carries out duties in phlebotomy, specimen processing, and responds to the Outpatient Lab and Central Specimen Processing Supervisors.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/22/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. This occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement. Individual Occupational Requirement -Specialized Experience: (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. In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience relevant to this position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education s described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (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. At this level, specialized experience should include experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests, examinations, and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have ???????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 appropriate to the position to be filled. 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 ???????the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen Collection 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. 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. Data entry includes patient information, test orders, and other critical data in a computer that may result in physical problems from the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain. The incumbent must have normal color vision correctable to 20/20. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. 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 include, but may not be limited to the following: Performs specimen collection, examination, receipt, processing, and shipment procedures as well as phlebotomy in an inpatient and outpatient setting. Develops and maintains positive clear communications with all customers, including patients and visitors. Operates with a sufficient level of expertise (garnered through extensive and intensive specialized experience and on-the-job-training) to independently work with complex laboratory tests and laboratory equipment requiring advanced skill levels. Possess knowledge and skill to provide technical advice, review processes, inspect and correct physical safety issues, share in education and training, and execute problem solving applicable to test procedures and processes within the laboratory. Possesses extensive knowledgeable about the specimen requirements for each reference laboratory test, specific to the receiving reference lab. Reviews requests for laboratory testing to verify the accuracy and completeness of the order. Reviews specimen labels for completeness to include a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers, date / time of specimen collection, phlebotomist initial. Assesses specimen integrity for correct tube type; adequate sample volume; correct storage and shipping environment; sample is free of contaminants such as abnormal lipids (fats), high level of bilirubin present; or high level of red blood cells. Troubleshoots and resolves specimen label or specimen integrity issues to prevent delays in patient care. Communicates with the patient's care team to resolve lab order discrepancies and/or special needs. Identifies unusual test results or discrepancies/conditions that can be erroneous results (instrument malfunction, conditions of test performance, reaction systems, specimen integrity, and/or test procedures). Demonstrates knowledge of quality control & quality assurance procedures on elaborate and complex laboratory instrumentation sufficient to ensure test accuracy and precision. Performs clerical duties while maintaining exemplary customer service, a high level of patient privacy, and ensuring laboratory safety and security. Receives telephonic inquires and communicating results to appropriate personnel using exemplary customer service and professionalism. Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Med Tech(Blood Banking)/PD07214A and PD11032A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized