HISTOPATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN

***This vacancy is open to current permanent employees of the Orlando VA Healthcare System (FACILITY-WIDE) ONLY.*** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: a. Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. b. Experience and Education (1) Experience: One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as, but not limited to, a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR (2) Education: (a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or (b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate’s degree in a health care related field. (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. c. Certification. None d. Grandfathering Provision. All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. f. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5.a., this part. GRADE REQUIREMENTS: PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Knowledgeable with medical terminology Able to evaluate and solve problems related to laboratory collection and processing of specimens for analysis according to regulatory guidelines Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member Able to work in fast pace environment, meeting deadlines with minimal supervision Able to work around chemicals and follow safety guidelines GS-5 (Entry Level) Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements Assignment: This is an entry level histopathology technician position. It is expected that histopathology technicians receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to, retrieving and accessioning surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens; enter and track workload data and disposition of pathology materials and documents electronically; perform pre and post-analytical duties; and may assist in preparation of autopsy protocols as assigned. The incumbent must maintain the integrity of patient identification throughout all processes. GS-6 Full Performance Level (FPL) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work. (b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures, principles of performance improvement, reagent management, inventory supply systems, and document control systems. (c) Knowledge of anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot instrumentation. (d) Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments. (e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results. Assignment: At the full performance level, the histopathology technician uses independent judgment to perform the full range of duties including analyzing and evaluating laboratory results. The histopathology technician carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision. This includes routine and complex histopathological and cytopathological procedures, quality control and assurance procedures, operation and routine maintenance of instrumentation, troubleshooting, and principles of performance improvement. The incumbent utilizes specialized techniques for handling cell blocks, frozen sections, bone marrows, autopsies, and fine-needle biopsies. The technician prepares technically adequate slides of surgical, cytology, and autopsy specimens by processing, embedding tissue, cutting, staining (including immunohistochemistry), and coverslipping. References: VA handbook 5005/102 Part II, Appendix G55 Histopathology Technician GS-0646. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5/6. Physical Requirements: The work requires manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision; regular and recurring physical exertion such as use of microtome or cryostat and standing for long periods of time; lifting of five gallon reagent containers and other moderately heavy supplies and equipment; a high degree of tolerance and ability to work under stress which at times can be irregular and sometimes constant. Additionally the demand for accuracy and timeliness in reporting results to pathologist responsible for patient care is an ever-present responsibility and a constant concern of a responsible Histopathology technician. Occasionally may be required to work long that eight hours per day, an off-shift, a weekend and/or holiday.
Serves as a Histopathology Technician in the Anatomic Pathology section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Orlando VA Medical Center. Performs a variety of routine and specialized tasks including accessioning, reference lab resulting, filling, embedding, microtomy, frozen sections, and special stains.