A Medical Technologist (MT) at this level carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. This would include routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation & troubleshooting. The MT develops, performs, evaluates, correlates/validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens & environmental samples using manual or automated techniques.

Duties

Duties include but not limited to: Evaluate the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepare specimens for analysis, ensuring physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained. Select, perform, evaluate and monitor the performance of test procedures, using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognize and react to indicators of malfunction; implement corrections. Conduct quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintain proper records for quality control reports. Investigate and take appropriate corrective actions for all out of control results. Inform lead tech/Supervisor if QC issues cannot be resolved. Perform proficiency testing, currently in the form of College of American Pathologists surveys. In the absence of Supervisor, conduct all inspection related responsibilities with the external agents of College of American Pathology (CAP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and The Joint Commission (T JC), etc. Calibrate, standardize, adjust and maintain instruments. Verify correct instrument operations using established procedures and quality control checks, linearity studies and monitoring. Identify the cause of common problems and make simple repairs. Performs correlation and method comparison studies for current/new procedures. Evaluate the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlate quantitative data with patient data (i.e. history, medications) to verify results. Perform additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Recognize critical tests and results that require immediate attention by the physician and report them timely and accordingly to established procedures. Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer. Perform automated and manual testing of patient samples. Accession samples and requests with appropriate documentation of any issues as applicable to each work area. Assist Lead Technologist and Supervisor in conducting periodic inventory of supplies. Maintain adequate supply levels of reagents and consumables. Record new lot numbers of materials and maintain records of when each reagent lot number was put into use. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 3:00pm - 11:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:F00493 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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 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. 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). Certification. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) or (3) below: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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). Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment not to exceed one year as a graduate medical technologist. Failure to become certified within one year will result in being removed from the Medical Technologist occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.5. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005. GS-7 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-9 (Full Performance Level) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR Education. Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-09. Physical Requirements: Completion of a satisfactory physical examination as determined by the Employee Health Unit upon appointment only is a must. Depending upon the area of the Laboratory assigned, there may be long periods of standing, sitting, walking; long periods of using microscope; or long periods of specimen processing. Other physical exertion may include reaching for supplies or materials and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagent packs). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures and color vision. Additionally, there are long periods of concentration and working under pressure to produce accurate test results as quickly as possible. 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 Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Todd Bellamy
• Phone: 704-638-9000 X16469
• Email: [email protected]