The Medical Technologist (Lab Information Technical Specialist) for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System (NF/SG VHS) is responsible for implementing and maintaining laboratory computer programs and systems to gather, record, process, and report clinical data. Occasional travel between sites may be required.

Duties

The Medical Technologist (Lab Information Technical Specialist) assists the Laboratory Information Manager. Major duties include but are not limited to: Assists in development and recommends new policies and procedures regarding the installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) or the hospital information system (HIS) projects. Assists with implementation and maintenance of coding and mapping for laboratory test ordering, reporting, billing, and workload recording systems. Analyzes emerging trends, software, and technology and adopts appropriate methods for local programs to meet agency goals. Assists as a key operator for Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) Document Control programs including the compliance, education, and competency software. The key operator duties expand to all middleware for transmission of orders and results used in the laboratory, such as: Instrument Manager, VBECS, and any other that may apply, current and future, to maintain laboratory efficiency. Serves as an administrative records liaison officer (RLO) for our P&LMS electronic records program. Advise all organizational levels on various aspects of the functions and capabilities of the information system. Ensures laboratory software contracts are established, monitored, documented, funded and audited in accordance with the FAR, VISN 8, and local policies. Serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative for the LIS contracts, including reviewing and certifying invoices. Ensures laboratory software contracts are established, monitored, documented, funded, and audited in accordance with the FAR, VISN 8, and local policies. Testing of new software enhancement mandated by the VHA. Responsible for interfacing laboratory instrumentation (includes other services utilizing the lab package, i.e., Respiratory Therapy, etc.). Implementation of instrumentation interfaces include interactive participation of kick-off and weekly meetings from start to finish of the projects and post-implementation follow-up if required. Establishing and maintaining Automatic Data Processing (ADP) procedures for new tests as they are introduced into the laboratory and creates/modifies existing procedures and/or processing rules by middleware as needed. Assesses data as needed, designs data collection procedures, identifies potential difficulties and determines acceptable procedures to alleviate problems. Developing and maintaining computer usage instructions for laboratory and nonlaboratory personnel required to use the laboratory computer package. Liaising with personnel in the medical center's computer organization and in other services of the medical center to plan and coordinate efforts, resolve common problems, develop mutually beneficial programs, and keep abreast of developments in computerization of laboratory systems. Serves as a liaison with other VA medical centers for effective import and export of laboratory package enhancements. Serving as the secondary resource person for all workstation computers and personal computers, located within P&LMS. Must maintain a current and working knowledge of most software productivity applications (especially word processors, spreadsheets, database, presentation, information exchange, and server query programs, i.e., SQL) sufficient to provide important information, training, and instruction. Coordinates laboratory software installations. Is responsible for data integrity of all PC's within the service to include designing data safeguard (backup) procedures, monitoring systems for possible data destruction (virus, worms, and trojans), and troubleshooting non-functional systems. Must develop and maintain knowledge of programming language sufficient to enhance the integrity and performance of workstation computers located within the service. Advises and consults with upper management on new advancements in computer technology. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm EST Telework: Available; Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. English Language Proficiency: Medical technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education and/or Experience Combination: In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess: 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. Certification: All candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as an MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, and AMT Grade Determinations: GS-11: 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. Technical Specialist. Serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/genetic testing, bone marrow examination, and flow cytometry. Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses. Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Applies policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain the specialized testing. The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities): 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. Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing. 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. Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. 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 Preferred Experience: Knowledge and understanding of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization sufficient to provide advisory, inspection, training, and problem-solving services on specific projects, programs or functions; strong working knowledge of software packages and their interdependencies: Lab (clinical laboratory and anatomic pathology), Blood Bank, and others as applicable; strong working knowledge of the business area involved (workflow, processes and systems); ability to adapt, implement, and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes; knowledge of computer system analysis, computer language, and program design sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system; general knowledge of national and federal regulatory and accreditation requirements; overall knowledge of medical device reporting requirements for associated laboratory applications. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending. Occasionally lifts heavy containers of supplies and equipment. 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).

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 Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Morgan Hogeland
• Phone: 561-827-8698
• Email: [email protected]