Job descriptionThis 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. Program 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. 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: 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 (1) 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 (, 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, (2) 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 (, 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, (3) 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 foreign baccalaureate degree 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 in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) 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. (2) 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. English Language Proficiency: must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grandfathering Provision: 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 Medical Technologist (a) 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, (b) Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal requirements and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests. b. Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing. c. Advanced knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired technologists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of the laboratory procedures. d. Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. e. Advanced knowledge of a particular discipline or function with wide latitude for exercising sound independent judgment. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-644, Veterans Health Administration dated May 12, 2014. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Medical Technologist: A Medical Technologist at the GS-11 level carries out all of the testing responsibilities of the GS-9 but has higher levels of professional responsibilities and technical expertise. Technologists at this level generally have professional oversight responsibilities and may have responsibility for a specific laboratory function and quality control review. The incumbent serves as a technical specialist in the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System's main laboratory with the responsibility and oversight of monitoring the quality operation of the laboratory for waived, moderate, and high complexity testing. The incumbent is assigned specialized and complex laboratory tasks beyond providing patient tests results. Complex duties will include evaluation of technical issues pertaining to analyzer function, reagent and/or control material performance, and the initiation of corrective action to resolve them. The incumbent will monitor and oversee the main laboratory's Quality Control. The incumbent will also assist the Quality Manager to assess Proficiency Testing activities. Functions: The incumbent will perform all duties of a GS-9 Medical Technologist with additional technical responsibilities, performing routine analytical testing at least 20 % of the time. As a technical specialist, the Senior Medical Technologist, will also perform duties and responsibilities that to include but are not limited to the following: - Ensure proper procedures are followed for pre-analytic phase of laboratory testing to include patient and sample identification, sample procurement, appropriate labeling, and the processing of samples for testing. Assist with ensuring IATA and/or DOT compliant packing and shipping of laboratory samples from remotes sites within VAPIHCS. - Evaluate suitability of specimens for analysis, request new specimens if determined to be unsuitable and properly documents such actions. Prepare specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiological state of the specimen properties is maintained. Identify issues that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results, develop process improvement initiatives, and implement and monitor the process to ensure sustained improvement. Keep the Supervisory Medical Technologist informed of any issues and actions for resolution - Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of routine and specialized test procedures using manual and/or analytical techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognize and react to indicators of malfunction and implements corrective actions. If unable to resolve, immediately notifies the Supervisory Medical Technologist or other administrative designee and provides timely notification to clinical staff regarding laboratory operational status if needed. - Oversee and coordinate quality control procedures for laboratory testing systems and maintains proper records for quality control reports. Ensure documentation is maintained of all quality control, analytical calibrations, and maintenance procedures performed including troubleshooting. Retrieve control data from equipment or logs and submits to inter-laboratory quality assurance programs (QAP) on a monthly basis. Periodically monitor and evaluate VAPIHCS lab control values in comparison with peer group values to adjust and/or set means, %CV, and SD's for each analyte. Ensures semi-annual and as needed Calibration Verification is performed and takes appropriate action for every failed parameter. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $ Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
