This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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. 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. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of baccalaureate programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described above. This finding may be based on either of the following: A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification-Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Grandfathering Provision: All MTs 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, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, VA Handbook 5005. 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). Grade Determinations: GS 11-Lead Medical Technologist Specialized 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. OR, Additional Education. 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, all of the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: a. Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. b. Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services. c. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. d. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. e. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing, kneeling, bending over microscopes, reaching for supplies or materials, and lifting moderately heavy (up to 45 pounds) items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagents packs). The work requires use of fingers, both hands, and color vision. The work requires the ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; ability to wear required to personal protective equipment as required. ["The incumbent is a qualified Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist that functions as a Lead Medical Technologist within the Molecular Biology section. A Medical Technologist at this level carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. This would include routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting. The Medical Technologist develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results, ensuring that all laboratory regulatory requirements are met. Duties and tasks include but are not limited to the following: Evaluates the suitability of each specimen for analysis, requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimen for analysis according to established procedures. Follows established procedure for handling of mislabeled, unlabeled, or unsuitable specimens. .Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrective action. Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports. Performs initial quality control of all incoming reagents and supplies as required. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement, providing sound independent work. Performs initial testing on all reagents received in Molecular Pathology before reagents are put into use. This includes lot-to-lot testing, parallel testing that is then presented to the supervisor or laboratory director to review/approve before reagents or supplies are put into use. Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments. This includes verifying correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. Evaluates the validity of the data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (e.g., history, medications) as necessary to verify results. Performs additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of results recorded into the computer system. Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of laboratory equipment and maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs instrumentation and demonstrates proper documentation of corrective action. Uses independent technical judgement to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Interprets and applies complex written instructions. Performs checks to maintain compliance with regulatory bodies such as FDA, The Joint Commission (TJC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) such as temperature checks, inventory control, instrument maintenance and testing. Communicates, consults, and interacts with other members of the healthcare team. Maintains accountability for inventory and ordering of all supplies and reagents. Follows all safety and infectious disease policies while conducting duties of the position. Performs routine and Stat laboratory testing within the established time limits. Continuously completes medical center and laboratory training and education as required and within the established deadlines. Telephones critical or urgent test results to the clinician or provider with appropriate documentation. Performs and completes all proficiency and competency testing to meet deadlines and with satisfactory performance. Involved in statistical data collection and/or documentation for records, reports, Quality Assurance monitors, and quality control. Maintains a detailed, accurate record in an organized fashion, tracks activities, and processes paperwork accurately and promptly. . . Work Schedule: 0730-1600 or 0800-1630 M-F, rotating weekends/holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: No available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN10HREDRPSLRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
