In addition to performing all of the duties of a generalist medical technologist, the incumbent acts as an Advanced Staff Medical Technologist. The specialist assists the supervisors in developing and recommending policies, procedures and equipment for Main Lab, CBOCs, and Ancillary Testing areas. Primarily serves as a technical advisor for Ancillary Testing and trainer for Sioux Falls VAHCS Path and Lab service. This position also serves as a Laboratory Safety Officer.

Duties

Evaluates abnormal results, uses and maintains equipment and could be delegated to implement, monitor and review daily /monthly liquid and electronic quality control. Provides training for other Lab professionals performing Main Lab testing and follows up with Manager and/or supervisors if issues occur. Assists in maintaining and revising inventory from the Main Laboratory to keep correct volumes of reagents needed for patient testing. Oversees new method development and provides professional and technical advice to the Manager/supervisors. Works off-hour shifts and Weekends/Holidays as priorities demonstrate a need for coverage. Advanced Staff Technologist Testing Duties/Tasks Perform more complex Laboratory Functions like Evaluation/ Modification and Implementation of new methods or techniques to improve or expand services. Develop and recommend protocols for performance of Main Lab tests and evaluation of results. Developing and recommending policies, procedures and equipment for ancillary testing sites. Ensure that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies. Recognize methodology limitations such as linearity's, interferences, sensitivity and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results Perform validation studies to include: Correlation, Linearities, Calibration Verification, Analytical Measurement Range, Precisions and interpret record and graph statistics. Assist the Manager/Supervisors to investigate, correct daily errors and collect data for Quality Assurance Purposes Maintain and revise POC inventory from the Main Laboratory to keep correct volumes of reagents needed for patient testing at specific POC sites. Provide professional and technical advice to technicians, technologists, and other Health Care Professionals Schedule and provide trainings for other health care professionals performing Point of Care Testing (POCT) and will need to follow up 6 month and annual competency records for POC operators. Perform Quality Control (Liquid and electronic and troubleshoot inoperable instruments). Assist the Manager/Supervisors to coordinate the assignment of Proficiency Testing through all POC testing sections. Assist the Manager/Supervisors to evaluate and take actions if needed from data gathered from the Monthly and Quarterly QA Reports Organize work and sets priorities to meet deadlines. Assist the Manager/Supervisors in all aspects of Ancillary Testing and assures compliance with clinical laboratory testing regulations and guidelines. Provide oversight and technical assistance to other laboratory staff members. Works as Safety Officer in conjunction with the laboratory manager regarding the laboratory safety program; identifies and resolves issues associated with safety regulations and required safety responsibilities. Medical Technologist Duties/Tasks Evaluate the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepare specimens for analysis, ensuring that the 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; locate and implement corrections. Perform quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintain proper records for quality control reports. Calibrate, standardize, adjust and maintain instruments. Verify correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identify the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. 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 abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly. Generate laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system. Perform venipunctures punctures for specimen collection. Instruct, assist and advise medical technicians, residents, hospital staff, patients and students as necessary regarding questions including, but not limited to, patient testing, specimen collection, equipment, ordering requirements, etc. Work Schedule: 0600-1430 Monday-Friday, with rotating off-tour, weekends, and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, 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 as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) 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. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Grade Determinations: Medical Technologist (Advanced Staff Technologist) 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. Equivalent experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9) is demonstrated by: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems. Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-10. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital 2501 West 22nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57105 US
• Name: Breeze Hennes
• Phone: (320) 252-1670 X5222
• Email: [email protected]