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 serves as an Advanced Medical Technologist on Day Shiftfor the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Salisbury VA Health Care System or Health Care Center as assigned and works as a Medical Technologist including weekends, and holidays. In addition to working the bench, this position has the added responsibility of maintaining the laboratories document control program, coordinating continuing education, and competency assessments to ensure regulatory compliance in these areas. This position is considered essential personnel. Duties may include but are not limited to: Establishes the standards and writes and maintains the policy for document control as it applies to the Pathology and Laboratory Department in accordance with the CAP Laboratory General Accreditation Standards. Performs first level reviews within 10 days on all Pathology and Laboratory procedures to ensure uniformity and document control compliance for all documents created and maintained by the Pathology and Laboratory Department. Routes documents for review and approval throughout the approval chain. Manages continuing education compliance in the VA training program for all Pathology and Laboratory staff in accordance with VA standards and ensures that current mandatory hours of continuing education, training modules and additional education hours required by facility are completed by assigned deadlines. Develops, conducts and/or coordinates continuing education events using formats approved by laboratory management for all Pathology and Laboratory staff at least twice per year and maintains records of training in accordance with CAP requirements. Determines training objectives; develops curriculum and materials to accomplish objectives using a wide variety of training media to ensure effective training; stays abreast of new developments and changes in the profession; and modifies and updates training materials, procedure manuals, and/or other information based on the most current source information. Responsible for maintaining, updating and reviewing the competency assessment procedures and forms as defined in the CAP Laboratory General Accreditation checklist. Coordinates assessment schedules for all staff with supervisors and ensures assessments are completed in accordance with regulatory requirements and by assigned deadlines. Notifies supervisors and management when delinquencies or unsatisfactory performance occurs. Implements corrective action and retraining in coordination with the department supervisor when warranted based on deficiencies, errors or unsatisfactory performance. Maintains competency in all areas of laboratory testing to include the Core Lab, Microbiology, Blood Bank, Phlebotomy Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technician occupation. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles. Recognizes and communicates pre-defined critical results affecting patient care. Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment. Uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction. Performs and documents quality control and quality assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement. Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures. Evaluates and implements new techniques and procedures in the laboratory in terms of equipment, method comparison, and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge. Interprets findings and makes recommendations. Incorporates principles of educational methodology in the instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's in service/continuing education program. Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer Gives direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (day shifts w/ rotating weekends and holidays) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate EDRP Authorized: Contact James Grimm, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, iASCP-BOR, or AMT. Basic Education and/or Experience requirements: (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 (iASCP-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. 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). 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: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-10 Advanced Staff Technologist: 1. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. 2. Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems. 3. Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements. 4. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. MTs at this level perform more complex laboratory functions. Duties may include specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects such as laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, or quality control file maintenance. Duties may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: serves as primary operator on new test systems, assumes responsibility to maintain operations including preventive maintenance and training of technicians and technologists on the operation of the new test systems; assists in writing procedures and other documents as directed; oversight of the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level technologist or technician training programs in order to fulfill educational and professional requirements (where training programs exist); provides technical training and guidance to students, residents, staff and other employees; recommends updated guidelines and policies in compliance with regulatory requirements for non-routine or complex assignments; coordinates the laboratory competency program; and coordinates the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) laboratory proficiency/survey program. References: VA Handbook 5005 G24The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items

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 WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: La-Tequl Edmonds-Arroyo
• Email: [email protected]