Medical Technician - Phlebotomist

Veterans Health Administration • Ann Arbor, MI

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Technician serves as a phlebotomist in the clinical laboratory, assists clinicians with bone marrow procedures, and receives and processes specimens. The position is within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, covering the Ann Arbor Medical Center and rotating to community-based outpatient clinics, such as Canton, as needed. This is not a virtual position; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

The technician draws blood from inpatients and outpatients, handles urine specimens, and follows patient identification, specimen collection, and labeling procedures. The role includes preparing and processing specimens, assisting with bone marrow biopsies using sterile-field techniques, supporting testing and result reporting, maintaining supplies, troubleshooting specialty send-out tests, answering questions from clinical staff, and training new employees as assigned.

The work schedule will be determined and includes rotating weekends and holidays; details will be discussed during the interview. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized, and a Critical Skills Incentive is not approved. This is a designated drug-testing position. The work requires lifting, pushing, standing, bending, walking, and manual dexterity, and involves recurring exposure to potentially infectious materials and hazardous chemicals. Protective eyewear, gloves, masks, surgical gowns, and other protective wear are required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Experience performing phlebotomy or blood draws on human patients.
• At the GS-05 level, either one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-04; a completed four-year bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours in appropriate subjects; or an equivalent combination of post-high-school education and specialized experience.
• If qualifying based on education, submit transcripts with the application; education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Ability to meet the position's physical demands, including lifting more than 20 pounds, pushing more than 100 pounds, prolonged standing, repeated bending, long-distance walking, and manual dexterity.
• Wear required protective eyewear, gloves, masks, surgical gowns, and other protective wear when working with potentially infectious materials and hazardous chemicals.
• Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including a background/security investigation, required identification, and urinalysis drug screening; selected applicants must complete online onboarding.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.

Responsibilities

• Draw blood via venipuncture from inpatients and outpatients for requested laboratory tests, using appropriate techniques and tubes and collecting the correct amount.
• Receive and appropriately handle urine specimens collected at the time of blood draws.
• Follow procedures for patient identification, specimen procurement, and specimen labeling.
• Maintain stocks and supplies for blood and blood-culture collection and other phlebotomy and specimen-procurement procedures.
• Process specimens by centrifuging and/or aliquoting accurate volumes of urine, whole blood, or serum/plasma into specialized containers for transport.
• Use sterile-field techniques to assist healthcare providers during bone marrow biopsy procedures.
• Attend training and educational seminars as needed and complete assigned computerized educational modules.
• Train new employees as assigned by the supervisor.
• Research and troubleshoot problems with specialty send-out tests.
• Answer inquiries from physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff about specimen requirements, test status, turnaround times, and results.
• Prepare specimens and agents for testing, perform test procedures, verify result accuracy, and report results in the computer system.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may request consideration for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service; approval is required and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level