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

Duties include, but are not limited to: The Medical Technologist / Clinical Laboratory Specialist generalist at this level develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens using manual or automated techniques and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision. The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as microbiology, chemistry (including toxicology), coagulation, hematology, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), serology, urinalysis, and virology. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual techniques and/or instrumentation in accordance with established protocols Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction, locates and implements corrections Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis Prepares specimens for analysis, insuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts and maintains instruments Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures Correlates quantitative data with patient data (e.g. previous results) to verify results Performs repeat and/or reflexive tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory information system (VistA) Responsible for the accurate verification and/or editing of the results entered Incorporates principles of medical technology in the instruction and training of new employees and students Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a medical technologist Provides excellent customer service as defined by the customer (medical center staff, patients, co-workers and visitors) Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines Demonstrates computer skills locating information and orders, generating labels, and entering results Communicating critical values to the provider Performing phlebotomy Work Schedule: Multiple Shifts Available; Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm and 4:00pm - 12:00am (midnight) and will require rotating weekends and holiday coverage; Night Shift. Sunday - Thursday, 11:00pm - 7:00am. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: EDRP may be available -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. Language: Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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). Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed one year as a graduate medical technologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). This appointment may not be extended. For grade levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 2d(1) VA Handbook 5005. Education and Experience Combination: You must meet one of the combinations listed below to be qualified for this position. (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. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED OR YOU WILL BE FOUND INELIGIBLE Grade Determinations: Specialized Experience GS-07: None beyond the basic requirements. Employees at this level serve in an entry level MT career development position practicing under close supervision of an MT at or above the full performance level. Specialized Experience GS-09: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-07, 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. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED OR YOU WILL BE FOUND INELIGIBLE In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate at GS-09 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 KSAs Must be Demonstrated in Your Resume The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Education

MPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application

IMPORTANT: If Certified, a copy of your active Certification must be included in your application. Without your certification, you will be rated ineligible.

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 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 US
• Name: Tamara Sneed
• Phone: 404-626-7179
• Email: [email protected]