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

Medical Technologist works throughout the lab as a generalist and also works the night shift, weekends, and holidays by themselves when priorities demonstrate a need. Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques Requires competency in the areas of Blood Bank, Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Microbiology, Serology, Special Chemistry and Urinalysis Monitors the quality control systems Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensures discrepancies are identified and attended by troubleshooting instrument performance and/or QC material performance Proposes solutions to remedy any deficiency discovered by QC tracking or proficiency testing results Creates/updates procedure manuals utilized by the night shift, assuring continuous review of changing accreditation standards Performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results Prepares reagents, assembles equipment, and verifies correct instrument operation Maintains validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures Correlates and integrates information and performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results Collects venous blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements Judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements Processes specimens and selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of type of specimens, patient information and resources available in the laboratory Controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained Demonstrates a working mastery of the functions of the CPRS system and Microsoft Internet, Word, and E-mail functions Resolving procedural, reagent and equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions, and previous experience Provides effective and professional training to new staff members on theoretical and practical aspects of procedures in use providing demonstration of laboratory practices Consults with newer staff regarding abnormal or unusual results and advises on course of action Conducts training events, competency testing exercises, review of correct procedures if problems arise and general oversight of instrument operation Completes all inventory duties and supply ordering Work Schedule: Varying 8-hour, 10-hour, or 12-hour shifts: several positions available including days, evenings, nights and weekends, some flexible work schedules may apply. Specific shift details will be discussed at time of interview Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54101-A Relocation Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Jillana Martinez [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

***This is an open continuous announcement until September 29, 2023. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.*** 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. 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 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). Grade Determinations: GS-10 (Advanced Staff Technologist) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-9 level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G24 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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Maria Romero
• Phone: 970-263-5098
• Email: [email protected]