Summary
Serves as program support assistant for Anatomic Pathology - Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) - Veterans Affairs Portland Healthcare System. The incumbent will act as an administrative support coordinator for anatomic pathology. The anatomic pathology section is responsible for providing all surgical pathology - cytopathology - and hematopathology reports at this medical center.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet specialized experience requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 05/14/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Print - scan - and route pathology reports including reference lab results; assist with coding and review reports for coding accuracy; maintaining pending lists - printing/scanning reports - and accessioning; preparing samples for testing; coordinate release of information; coordinate send-out testing - package specimens - and tracks chain of custody; maintains electronic logs on tissue to released labs and transcribe results into report. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month & year starting and year ending dates AND hours worked per week. 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/.
Duties
- Major duties include - but are not limited to: Establishes priorities for accomplishing the various responsibilities within a multidisciplinary department - while handling multiple - varied interruptions and unpredictable day-to-day work assignments
- Must be an authority on current VA regulations governing patient reports and intra- and inter-service written communications
- There must be thorough knowledge of medical terminology - including specialized terminology used in surgical pathology - cytology - bone marrow - autopsy reports - and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) codes
- Must be able to analyze the workflow of Anatomic Pathology and distribute the workload to complete necessary tasks in a timely manner - establishing priorities and making adjustments - such as using alternative procedures when the hospital computer system is down or the department is short-staffed
- Aids in the collection and interpretation of data for the anatomic pathology QA program
- Receives requests for statistical or informative material concerning the program - which can be assembled from the records
- advises when the material can be furnished and prepares it personally or follows up to see that it is prepared by the staff within the specified time
- Much of the material processed is considered confidential and/or urgent - necessitating immediate attention without disrupting the regular work routine
- Assists with the administrative preparation of the surgical - cytology - and autopsy work areas and manuals for inspection by accrediting agencies and participates in the inspection process as required by the supervisor
- Performs tasks independently and must demonstrate good judgment in determining priority
- Must use initiative in carrying out assignments without specific instruction and refer deviations - problems - and unfamiliar situations to the supervisor
- The supervisor provides additional specific instructions for new or unusual procedures
- The work is reviewed by the supervisor for accuracy and timeliness through systematic quality assurance reviews
- The supervisor is available for assistance with unusually difficult problems
- Procedures for doing the work have been established - and several specific guidelines are available
- The number and similarity of guidelines and work situations require the employee to use judgment in locating and selecting the most appropriate guidelines - references - and procedures for application and in making minor deviations to adapt the guidelines in specific cases
- At this level - the employee may also determine which of several established alternatives to use
- Situations to which the existing guidelines cannot be applied - or for which significant proposed deviations from the guidelines are proposed - are referred to the supervisor
- The personal contacts are with pathologists - technologists - physicians - occasionally patients or patients' families - and personnel in other services or other agencies
- Contact is generally engage in different functions - missions - and types of work - e.g. - representatives from various levels within the agency - such as headquarters - regional - district - or field offices - or other operating offices on the immediate installation
- The purpose is to obtain - clarify - or give facts or information regardless of the nature of those facts - i.e. - the facts or information may range from easily understood too highly technical
- Such contacts might include solving problems - following up on commitments - or arranging meetings
- Work Schedule: Monday to Friday
- 6:00 am - 2:30 pm or 7:00 am - 3:30 pm PST Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD21850A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
US
