Summary The incumbent serves as a Histopathology Technician in the Clinical Laboratory at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. The Histopathology Technician is responsible for the activities of the anatomic pathology (histology) and cytology section of the laboratory. The specimens handled in this section of the laboratory are surgical pathology, cytology and fine needle aspirations. Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of the Histopathology Technician include, but are not limited to the following: Receives all requests and specimens for processing in the histology and cytology laboratory. Verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request and proper sample submission. Properly identifies all specimens. Verifies discrepancies with the provider. Accessions all specimens into the hospital computer system. Performs surgical gross description and processing. Gross description includes describing the physical appearance of the specimen, measuring it, selection of pertinent and/ or pathologic portions of the specimen, and assuring proper identification of the type of specimen and identity of the patient. Selects the proper fixation technique that is required depending on the specimen type (such as decalcification for bony specimens). Determines the time required for fixation and tissue processing. Responsible for embedding tissue of all sizes in the proper medium and in the proper manner for correct sectioning. Responsible for operating the microtome to achieve tissue sections of thickness requested by the pathologist. Prepares reagents for manual and instrument driven staining procedures. Is responsible for addressing testing priorities as needed. Responsible for accurately entering all the necessary workload information into the VISTA program. Performs daily quality control to assure that the reagents, equipment, and temperatures are within the recommended guidelines. He/ she identifies quality control variations and initiates corrective action. All quality control activities are documented and maintained in compliance with accrediting agencies such as College of American Pathologists and Joint Commission. Responsible for the Quality Improvement and Quality Control programs in Histology and Cytology. Ensures that the department policies meet the requirements of regulatory and accrediting agencies. Performs routine preventative maintenance and documents service on all instrumentation. He/ she verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks. Identifies the cause of common problems with instruments and makes minor adjustments and sometimes recommends complex instrument repairs. The instruments may include, but are not limited to the microscopes, tissue processors, strainers, coverslippers, water baths, refrigerators, freezers, grossing station, microtomes, cryostats, embedding centers, fume hoods, cell blocker, cytospin and ThinPrep. Performs staining of tissue sections, including histochemical and other advanced staining techniques. These procedures are often complex, difficult and non-standardized. Performs frozen section preparations that include selection of pathogenic margins, freezing the unfixed specimen, sectioning the specimen with the cryostat and staining. Procedures must be adapted to individual variance in specimen and stain performance. Adapts and develops new test and staining procedures. This development requires research into state-of-the-are methods and advancing technology. These new procedures are evaluated for proper performance of equipment and stains. Participates in the evaluation of new instrumentation, reagents and methodologies that may be incorporated into the laboratory. Writes procedures for the department of all tests performed, conforming those procedures to the CLSI standards. Reviews procedures annually and updates the procedures to reflect needed changes. Assists in the training of other histopathology technicians as they applied to procedures, instrument function, quality control, quality management and reporting. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Histopathology Technician/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). 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. Qualifications Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technician, GS-8 (Lead) (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (2) Assignment. Lead Histopathology technicians at this level perform duties which consist of a significant scope, complexity and administrative independence. The Lead provides direction to the daily operations and assumes responsibility for integrating and monitoring the standard adherence to methods and protocols to maintain continuous work flow and quality within the unit. Duties include: prepare, direct, and approve work schedules and assign tasks for timely completion of duties; ensure resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs; calibrate, operate, and maintain instruments and equipment used in surgical pathology, immunohistochemistry, and special stains; provides guidance and instruction to Histopathology Technicians on a broad range of specific tasks and job techniques; monitors work in progress often performing spot checks to ensure protocols are being followed; reviews completed work to ensure guidelines are met regarding work sequences, procedures, and methods; provides on-the-job training to new employees; provides cross-training to staff; provides input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees; adjusts work assignments due to absences or changes in priorities; resolves simple informal complaints of employees and patients, referring the more difficult problems to the supervisor; recommends approval and/or disapproval of leave requests. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. (a) Ability to use independent judgment and apply comprehensive technical histopathology knowledge to solve complex problems concerning a broad range of tests, procedures, and protocols. (b) Ability to perform procedural technical review and provide written and practical application training and instructions to laboratory personnel in all areas of histology. (c) Ability to manage staffing requirements, plan and organize workload and priorities, and coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of incomplete work. (d) Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements that govern laboratory operations in order to insure that work practices, documentation, and reporting are consistent with all governing standards and regulations. (e) Skill in communicating with individuals in order to obtain the desired effect, provide technical guidance and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. References: VA Handbook 5005/102 PART II APPENDIX G55 The full performance level of this vacancy is 8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.