Medical Technician

Medical Technician - GS-0645-07 - Fort Irwin, CA

Fort Irwin is located in the high desert of the Mojave, 40 miles north of Barstow, CA and the home of the National Training Center (NTC). The NTC is the Army’s premier training site and trains over 50,000 troops a year in preparation for deployments worldwide. We support the NTC’s mission to “Train the Force”. Our organization has the mission to provide world-class healthcare to the 12,000 Soldiers and Family Members of the NTC, Fort Irwin and Yuma Proving Grounds (Yuma, AZ), as well as to support the rotational training units. Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) is a small community hospital supported by over 400 military and civilian staff members with an inpatient capacity of 20 beds including both Mother/Baby and Medical/Surgical Wards.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link:  

1. Independently performs moderately difficult and complex laboratory examinations and procedures. Selects appropriate procedures for request and/or study. Tests are not always covered in detail by instructions and guidelines or in the laboratory procedures because of the high degree of difficulty, the great number of variables, and the variety of instruments and equipment. a. Sets up equipment, instruments and apparatus. As part of set up, calibrates various analyzers as required and runs quality control samples on all instruments, making adjustments as necessary and performing operator maintenance. Facilitates repairs if necessary. Follows a daily maintenance regimen, conducts a quality control program, and troubleshoots minor problems. Performs inventory and ordering procedures. Supports College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation for the Pathology Division and participates in the CAP external survey program. Performs all documented procedures in standard operating manuals and test evaluations. b. Manages patient results status by verifying and certifying results input into laboratory computer system. Utilizes the Composite Health Care System (CHCS) and the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) systems for maintaining patient data. Assumes responsibility to review results and to repeat unusual results as necessary. Certifies all results with notification of panic values. Saves markedly abnormal specimens for clinical review and communicates with appropriate credentialed and/or licensed personnel. Maintains workload accounting system. 2. Performs laboratory testing in each of the following sections of the Laboratory: Chemistry, performing automated and semi-automated procedures such as total lipid testing; Hematology, working in routine hematology; Urinalysis; Microbiology, diagnostics for macroscopic and microscopic examination of cultures; Quality Control; and phlebotomy. Performs preparatory work based on specialized test or procedure being performed such as collecting appropriate specimens, preparing and staining smears of specimens, preparing reagents, control and calibrators. Consults with physicians regarding test findings or on additional tests that may be useful or necessary to clarify problems.

Routine Hematology: Performs a broad variety of automated and manual procedures related to the quality and quantity of constituents of human blood, plasma, and other body fluids. Performs automated complete blood counts and differential, reticulocyte counts, sedimentation rates, and various manual procedures to include sickle cell screens, body fluid studies, and slide reviews for differentials and morphology. Chemistry: Selects, performs and monitors a wide variety of tests using moderately complex automated analytical systems. Performs moderately complex tests including total iron-binding capacity and high density lipoprotein cholesterol as part of lipid testing. Follows established procedures for testing biological fluids such as whole blood, serum, urine, and other body fluids. Recognizes, responds to, and troubleshoots error codes and malfunctions of the analyzers by using manufacturer operator manuals and via telephonic support assistance when necessary. Uses various computers to perform work via the onboard data management systems utilized by most analyzers. Microbiology: Receives laboratory requests along with specimens and selects tests and procedures required to identify microorganisms and parasites known to invade man. Performs microbiological testing using Rapid Strep, Rapid Influenza, Hem occult kits, routine B-HCG tests, and other rapid diagnostic kits. Performs serological and bacteriological tests. Procedures include both routine and complex tests/examinations, to include, but not limited to interpretation of colony count, preparation and interpretation of Kirby-Bauer drug sensitivities, quality control procedures, interpretation of wet preparations, gram stains, reading and interpreting blood cultures, preparation and microscopic examination of saline and iodine wet preps for parasites, reading of pinworm/scotch tape preps. Performs diagnostic immunology testing such as ASO, RPR, and other agglutination tests. Utilizes the automated vitek equipment to determine the biochemical characteristics of bacteria and fungi in the definitive identification of pathogenic organisms. Urinalysis: Performs a variety of microscopic, macroscopic and chemical analyses in Urinalysis; e.g., Bence Jones Protein, identification of hemosiderin, acetone, cell counts, protein, etc., to identify normal and pathologic constituents found in urine specimens. Makes routine determination of the ph or urine by use of multiple test reagent strips. Uses TS meter for determining specific gravity. Performs urine microscopy, involving the identification of cast material and various types of cellular material. Performs specialized tests, to include but not limited to, urine MCG, melanin, myoglobin, porphyrins, porphobilinogen, urobilinogen and Kova stains.

3. Phlebotomy: Performs phlebotomy on individuals as directed by laboratory management staff. Selects proper type of anticoagulants and amount of blood to be drawn. Uses needle and syringe, laboratory management staff. Selects proper type of anticoagulants and amount of blood to be drawn. Uses needle and syringe, Vacutainer, or butterfly techniques; and labels, as appropriate.

4. Quality Control: Conducts necessary quality control procedures. Maintains accurate records utilizing Quality Control charts/worksheets and ensures all QC results fall within established control limits prior to releasing patient results. Properly documents all corrective action taken for any discrepancies and out of range controls. Records new lot of reagents and ensures QC results are acceptable before putting into use. Performs external proficiency surveys as directed by supervisor. Records temperatures of refrigerators and freezers daily.

PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

Conditions of Employment

• Position is designated as Inclement Weather Essential. The incumbent must make every attempt to report for work on time and/or remain on duty during severe weather conditions.
• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Selectees will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• A pre-placement medical examination is required.
• Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• This position may require the incumbent to work during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules
• This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment screening and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to consent to participation in random drug urinalysis testing.

U.S Citizenship required 

Certificate: This position has a selective placement factor which must be met prior to employment and for continued employment: This position requires a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Certification. Certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologist (AMT) or other board or registry deemed comparable by Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD(HA)) or their designee as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) is required.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing complex testing in a clinical laboratory setting; maintaining and/or troubleshooting equipment; and conducting quality control procedures. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06). OR Education: One full years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Clinical Laboratory Science, Chemistry, or Microbiology. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.