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 position is in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS), Chemistry Section of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System located Bay Pines, Florida. The Generalist Medical technologist Lead are certified professionals with specialized training and experience who demonstrate a wide latitude of exercising independent judgment. Areas of technical competency are subject to change. The Lead Medical Technologist duties include but are not limited to: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist profession. Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis. Instructs and assists coworkers in specimen problem handling according to service procedures. Operates, calibrates, troubleshoots malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment and documents appropriately. Communicates with healthcare providers on patient history or condition to evaluate the test result validity as needed to troubleshoot unusual results. Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Consults with supervisor or pathologists when needed. Performs and documents quality control and corrective actions. Writes procedures for new methods. Updates procedures for lab compliance as needed. Monitors policies, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain specialized testing. Reports issues to supervisor. Trains and instructs new employees and students. Gives direction and guidance using principles of laboratory testing and service policy and procedures. Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines. Flexes as needed for patient care as determined by management. Participates in mandatory in-services regarding Safety, OSHA, Infection Control, etc. Manages competency folder for compliance. Adheres to practices and regulations governing safety and security in the workplace. Maintains confidentiality regarding administrative and patient issues. Participates in proficiency testing, competency testing and Performance Improvement and helps maintain accreditation by participating in quality improvement goals of the laboratory and healthcare system. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00PM EST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 20629F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

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 Education. 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 (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. Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: 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. 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. At the full performance GS-9 level, the medical technologist 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 all laboratory regulatory requirements are met. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. These require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory healthcare professionals and the public in a professional, courteous and effective manner. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities): Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. 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. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to provide technical oversight to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, May 12, 2014 Appendix G-24 Medical Technologist (GS-11) Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are moderate. The work includes the ability to maneuver in and behind instrumentation for troubleshooting and maintenance procedures. Some work is sedentary (4-7 hrs.) with periods of walking (2 hrs.), bending and or kneeling (3hr), lifting and carrying of reagents, equipment, and files (15-44 lbs.). There may be some extended periods of standing (6-8 hrs.); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing aid (permitted); emotional stability; ability to hear whispered voice; the use of fingers is required including typing (4-6 Hrs.); reaching above shoulder; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination required.

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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Taneisha Robinson
• Phone: 3055757000
• Email: [email protected]