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.

Duties

This Medical Technologist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator (ATC)) position is in Pathology and Laboratory services at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, located at the White River Junction, Vermont location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. The ATC develops and recommends policies and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing (testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory as mandated by VHA) including ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained in off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC).The incumbent develops and recommends new policies, procedures and direct oversight regarding ancillary testing performed at the White River Junction (WRJ) VAMC and all of its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinates all activities associated with Point-of-Care Testing methods. Revises, creates, and/or maintains POC procedures in various manuals throughout the Medical Center and the CBOCs. Procedures are completed according to guidelines by the College of American Pathologists and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Assists in developing and verifying protocols for new instruments and procedures added to or changed within the POC testing arena. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs/corrections. Monitors performance of POC proficiency testing and maintains records for proficiency testing according to CAP and laboratory standards. Reviews proficiency testing results for successfulness and ensures that appropriate action is taken and documented when there is an exception. Maintains records and reports of all Quality Surveillance programs for timely performance and submission of data, in an organized and readily accessible manner. Resolves problems/concerns from point-of-care testing staff regarding analysis, instrument operation, and quality control issues. Meets with representatives of other services to resolve quality improvement problems in order to improve the quality of care. Interprets regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and pertinent statutes in performing and monitoring laboratory tests. Develops and maintains record keeping systems (i.e., instrument maintenance, quality control/ quality assurance, safety, proficiency testing, and competency assessment for all POC operators). Reviews all POC quality control records in the laboratory and all other POC locations as indicated by regulatory and accrediting agencies. Identifies problems, spots trends, and recommends and/ or initiates appropriate corrective action. Responsible for the Ancillary section of the CAP accreditation inspection checklists, designing or recommending policies and procedures for compliance with all requirements. Serves as primary resource for all personnel performing POC testing, and advises on equipment selection and lab operations at all WRJ CBOCs. Provides training for the LIM or other designee to provide backup to the ATC in his/her absence. Serves as a rotating medical technologist in the main laboratory, working in all departments on a rotation. Is required to work weekend and holiday rotations. Provides on-call coverage on a rotational basis for third shift and weekends should there be a need. Work Schedule: Various; TBD if selected. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Hannah Neilson ([email protected]), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: This position is a Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

Requirements

Qualifications

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 (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, (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 (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, (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 have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) 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). English Language Proficiency: Medical Technologists (MTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. 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-12: Experience. Must have one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11 which is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices and methodologies sufficient to perform the full range of maintenance of technical, quality assurance and safety accreditation/testing programs. Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing and a grasp of complex laboratory testing issues. Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement. Knowledge of the types of surveillance, ability to collect data necessary to monitor variables that affect quality of services, and skill in evaluating, interpreting and teaching others to use quality control procedures and implementing corrective actions. Knowledge of Federal, VHA, and state laws, regulations, reference standards, medicolegal responsibilities, and certifying and accrediting agency requirements in order to carry out the work in each ancillary testing site. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity. Assignment: The ATC develops and recommends policies and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing (testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory as mandated by VHA) including ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained in off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). Consults with program managers or equivalent of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs and to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods, serving as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation. Develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, ensuring accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, result reporting and proficiency testing including reports, monitors and continuous performance improvement initiatives. Evaluates ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines identifying, defining and resolving issues associated with complex aspects of the data and problems associated with unique aspects of the ancillary testing management program. The ATC has knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements, performs and evaluates instruments, performs validation studies, recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program, develops and implements corrective actions and coordinates inventory management, supply acquisition and contracts. Preferred Experience: ASCP or AMT certification as MT, MLS, or CLS One year work experience as a generalist Medical Technologist in a hospital setting. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G24 Medical Technologist Qualification Standard dated May 12, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. 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.

Contacts

• Address White River Junction VA Medical Center 215 North Main St. White River Jct., VT 05009 US
• Name: Jessica Steed
• Phone: (802) 295-9363 X2021
• Email: [email protected]