USAJOBS · 12 hours ago
Health Technician (Laboratory Assistant)
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Full-time
Onsite
Entry Level
$44K/yr - $44K/yr
1+ years expUSAJOBS is seeking a Health Technician (Laboratory Assistant) for the VA North Texas Health Care System. The role involves receiving and processing laboratory specimens, ensuring specimen integrity, and providing customer service to patients and healthcare professionals.
ConsultingGovernmentHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyInternetStaffing Agency
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Provides customer relation services when receiving laboratory specimens from patients and other services within the VA North Texas Healthcare System
Serves as a subject matter expert for other healthcare professionals on the collection and processing of all laboratory testing
Reviews and accepts test request orders for samples submitted for testing
This includes accessioning samples into the laboratory
Evaluates the suitability of specimens for analysis, requesting new specimens if determined to be unusable
Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained
Follows established protocol for handling of mislabeled/unlabeled specimens
Separates and routes the specimen to the specific laboratory section that performs the ordered test
Receives packages delivered to the laboratory
Performs the processing of all clinical laboratory specimens and is responsible for the timely and proper distribution of specimens to the technical areas of the PLMS laboratory and the reference laboratories to assure specimen integrity
Uses laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers, in addition to consumables such as transfer pipettes, laboratory pour-off tubes and reference laboratory specimen containers
Communicates with the reference laboratories to research the requirements on new tests that are not identified in the reference laboratory directories
Operates and performs periodic reviews on equipment including checking temperatures of laboratory refrigerators and freezers, etc
Responsible for monitoring technical equipment, performing maintenance, and quality assurance on instrumentation (centrifuge)
Serves as key contact for Veterans and beneficiaries seeking Diagnostic services, experiencing problems, and/or requesting information
Operate standard office equipment, such as multiline phone, copier, scanner, fax, page printers, label printers, etc
Answer and route telephone calls to the appropriate technical area of P&LMS
Verifies patient information and tests ordered in the computer system
Prints patient order labels for sample collection and at leisure tests (urine, stool, 24-hour urine, etc.)
Answers basic technical laboratory questions or following up with appropriate section
Demonstrates knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices of phlebotomy, hemostasis, and requirement of blood collection for the various tests performed in the laboratory
Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per PLMS policies and procedures for both inpatient and outpatient orders
Must understand isolation precautions and the proper personal protective equipment necessary to perform phlebotomy procedures
Identifies tests that require special handling conditions and appropriately performs proper specimen collection
Initiates emergency care procedures in the event a patient has reaction to blood collection procedures including fainting, hematoma, and anxiety
Qualification
Required
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
Subject to a background/suitability investigation
Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements
Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement
GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position
Specialized experience includes: Specimen Collection - Collect blood specimen, urine specimens and cultures following protocols; Computer Skills - Understands and utilizes information resource technology such as preparing documents; retrieving information, printing labels, and phone usage; Customer Service - Interacts with patients visitors, and staff in a helpful and respectful manner; Patient Care - Assess patients before, during, and after procedures; Quality Assurance - Adheres to universal precautions, infection control, and safety regulations
Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond an Associate's degree
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
Company
USAJOBS
USAJOBS enables federal job seekers to access job opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations.
10001+ employees
Funding
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