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

Modifies or adapts new methods or techniques to improve or expand services Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results. Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements. Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results. Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems. Provides advisory services to technicians, technologists, and other specialists. Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist occupation in the Chemistry Department which also includes the areas of general chemistry, immunochemistry, Therapeutic Drugs, Tumor Markers, Cardiac Markers, Glycated Hemoglobin, body fluids, spinal fluids, Drugs of Abuse, Hepatitis Antigens and Antibodies, (CSF and Serum). Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment. Uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment in Chemistry. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction in these same departments. Assists the supervisor in developing analytical methods and quality control procedures for new tests as they are introduced to the Chemistry Department. Assists the supervisor in modifying existing procedures as testing requirements change. Participates in quality assurance efforts by identifying quality improvement indicators for chemistry operations. Develops a system to monitor indicators so as to effectively identify problem and/or potential problem areas. Recommends and implements corrective actions when indicated so as to improve patient care efforts of the P&LMS. Performs and reviews quality control procedures on chemistry instrumentation and testing reagents by designing and implementing check systems to insure accuracy of analytical systems. Evaluates check system results and initiates corrective action as indicated. Helps oversee the processes and dispatches specimens to reference laboratories assuring that viability is maintained by proper preservation and that all laws and regulations are followed for transporting etiologic agents. Reviews current literature for improved analytical testing and quality control procedures for the Chemistry Department. Evaluates new protocols and testing procedures to determine their suitability for local use. Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and presents solutions for all testing performed. Incorporates principles of educational methodology in the instruction and training of new employees in the laboratory's in-service/continuing education program. Helps the supervisor with the oversight of the central accessioning department. Maintains supplies with COR documentation. Consults with healthcare providers and pathologists on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient. Collaborates with VISN laboratories, vendors and contracting to ensure quality testing. Assists in employee/student training and competency assessment. Work Schedule: Full Time 8:00am-4:30pm rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 39123F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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

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: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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. Foreign Graduates: 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. 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 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements. Do you posses 1 year of creditable experience equivalent at the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled? OR, Have 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? In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: a. Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. b. 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. c. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. d. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. e. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. Preferred Experience: Employee must have advanced knowledge of specialty and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance. Applicants will be questioned about specific details of chemistry processes and functions. References: VA Handbook 5005, 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 GS-11. 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 Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany 113 Holland Ave Albany, NY 12208 US
• Name: Sarah Cassidy
• Email: [email protected]