A Medical Technologist, Quality Management, facilitates team processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals, needs and achievements are coordinated with management. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education and/or Experience Combination. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.) AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND Two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. OR, For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Preferred Experience: 3 years of experience with laboratory safety accreditation standards. 3 years of experience with managing and organizing document control systems. 3 years of experience with creating training material for laboratory personnel. 3 years of experience writing standard operating procedures. Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, you must meet the experience and the KSA's described below GS-11 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled to include: Providing authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization as it applies to quality management in a clinical laboratory setting. Maintaining a laboratory quality management program and ensuring monitoring of components and customer feedback. Identifies, defines and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of the collected data. Monitors laboratory quality control systems and performance indicators. Interacting with management officials and vendors providing inter-laboratory quality assurance and laboratory proficiency testing. Developing validation plans for equipment and methodology evaluations and evaluates statistical data collected. Responsible for laboratory continuous readiness for regulating agency inspections and accreditation from agencies such as the Joint Commission (JC) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP).OR Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning, coordinating and evaluating laboratory services. b. Knowledge of quality management standards. c. Knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements pertaining to laboratory operations. d. Comprehensive knowledge of statistical evaluation and analysis. e. Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization. f. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control/assurance policies, procedures and principles, as well as safety practices and regulations. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standards, GS-0644. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 lbs); Light Carrying (under 15 lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (2 to 8 hours); Standing (2 to 8 hours); Repeated bending (2 to 8 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4: Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). ["Ensures laboratory adheres to all practices and regulations related to workplace safety, document control, temperature monitoring, and overall laboratory education program. Performs periodic inspections and maintains records. - Maintains current safety, disaster, chemical hygiene, temperature monitoring, and document control standard operating procedures and policies. Maintains education regulations are being met by providing education opportunities and documenting the activities for accreditation readiness. - Ensures employees have received safety training and maintains documentation. - Documents accidents and recommends improvements. - Represents laboratory on appropriate medical center committees; GEMS committee, Infection prevention liaison committee; chairs laboratory safety committee; and interacts with other medical center staff, such as the facility education chief, industrial hygienist, infection control officer, and biomedical engineers. - Serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization. - Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods in local programs to meet agency goals. Ensures laboratory adheres to all regulations related to temperature monitoring and control standards and document control management with guidance from the P&LMS Laboratory Director and Laboratory Manager. Work Schedule: M-F 07300- 1615 Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
