Medical Technician
What you'd do
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is seeking a Medical Technician for the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center-University Drive facility. The incumbent provides clinical and administrative support to a wide variety of departments in the Laboratory.
Major duties
This position is located in the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center Laboratory. They are responsible to the Supervisor of Phlebotomy/Processing. Duties include but are not limited to, specimen collection, specimen receipt, specimen preparation, specimen ordering, and specimen shipping. Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Specimen Collection/Specimen Receiving Actively identifies patient using two full identifiers according to facility policy before specimen collection. Performs venipuncture and capillary collections on both inpatients and outpatients on a routine or STAT basis to obtain blood samples for testing. Accurately labels specimens according to facility policy. Delivers samples to the lab for testing. Adheres to safety, infection control and standard precautions while drawing blood samples. Provides initial aid when a patient has a reaction to a venipuncture procedure and activates a condition when serious or emergency conditions exist. Recognizes, reassures and supports nervous patients during sample collections to keep them calm and comfortable. Explains procedure and provides collection container to patients for collection of other lab specimens including but not limited to; random, clean catch, and 24-hour urine samples, stool samples, sputum samples, salivary cortisol. Advises healthcare providers on special collection procedures for other lab tests as requested. Reviews and receives orders in VISTA, sorts and prioritizes samples collected outside the laboratory. Evaluates specimens for suitability and acceptability and labels according to facility policy. Notifies nursing or provider if samples need to be recollected. Incumbent enters orders into VISTA for samples collected and sent from other VA facilities both in and outside of VISN 4. Labels samples according to facility policy and delivers samples to the correct department for testing Clerical and Administrative Support Monitors supply inventory, rotates stock, and minimizes outdating. Responsible for determining that no outdated collection containers, tubes, etc., are in work area or in use. Requests additional supplies as needed using established protocols. Uses materials in a cost effective manne Completes requisitions with accuracy for samples sent to reference labs that are not interfaced with the VA lab information system. Files requisitions appropriately for result entry upon return. Trains and orients new employees and students as applicable and assigned. Opens and checks mail against manifest received with samples for testing at VAPHS. Receives orders for mailed samples or places orders into the lab information system and distributes samples to the respective testing area Participates in inspection readiness and compliance with laboratory regulatory agencies. Work Schedule: Rotating hours starting between 5:30am and 7:45am Telework: This position is not authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD02667A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education described below: General Experience: Six months of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-3 level) that demonstrates technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings. AND Six months of general experience that includes any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. The total amount of experience must equal a FULL YEAR. OR, Education: 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation. Note at the GS 4 and above, a portion of the education is usually directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This positions contains an Individual Occupation Requirement that further specializes the work/education necessary to qualify: 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. OR, Education and Training: Successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of the training course as described in (a) above for GS-3; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. 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/.
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