Medical Technologist (MT) Carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. This includes routine testing, quality control, routine maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting. The MT develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Duties include, but are not limited to: - Greets / identifies patients; secures and accessions appropriate laboratory orders and requests written follow-up / 'read back' for verbal orders from ordering personnel; performs phlebotomy on inpatients and outpatients; and labels specimen containers per accreditation agency standards / [SOP's]. - Verifies correct identification of patients and specimens using two identifiers [ name and social security number] throughout collection, aliquoting, processing, handling, testing, reporting, and storage according to requirements. - Utilizes available resources to independently resolve questions regarding specimen collection, handling, processing, and shipping requirements. - Ensures phlebotomy supplies are adequate and re-stocked as necessary. - Maintains patient and specimen information privacy utilizing physical barriers such as privacy screen on thin clients, curtain, and 'white' noise. - Assists in phlebotomy training and competency as necessary. - Performs POC testing as needed and provides lab consultation for external POC testing resolution. - Evaluates specimen suitability for analysis, requesting new specimen [or recollection] if necessary. Documents specimen rejections and corrective actions according to lab SOP. Logs in all acceptable specimens received into the appropriate accession areas during preanalytical phase of processing. - Prepares specimens for analysis, insuring that the physiologic state of specimen and correct identity of patient with sample is maintained [includes reference lab and surgical / pathology samples]. - Follows all applicable regulations when preparing specimens for commercial transport systems [DOT / IATA/USPS/Private courier/ VA Driver]. Maintains current knowledge of transportation regulations by participating in continuing education as available to ensure active certification for specimen shipping / transport. - Communicates status / needs of specimens, such as 'STAT', 'ASAP', or other specific requirements to ensure that result expectations are met and that specimens / results are not compromised from lack of communication. - Assesses specimens for additional laboratory testing orders and performs additional lab testing as indicated. - Logs in acceptable specimens from facility, CBOC's, and contract sites. Compares specimens received to those submitted on the Incomplete List. Annotates receipt date with tech initials on Integrity log. - Assures that all specimens are processed in a timely and efficient manner with a minimum amount of errors that require corrective action and/or follow up by other technologists. - Writes and updates procedure manuals and participates fully in the Laboratory's Annual Procedure Reviews and Document Control System. Performs all current processing, testing, and reporting according to the procedures provided in the department[s]. - Coordinates work in departments to meet priorities of the Primary Health Care Teams for Urgent Care, ICU, surgical, and Outpatient loads and the CBOC clinics. - Prepares and handles reagents and reference materials [standards, calibrators, reagents, controls, survey samples] per the manufacturer's instructions. - Performs functional checks on equipment, instruments, reagents, and products as required by the manufacturer. - Evaluates, validates, and implements the use of new non-waived complex methodologies [products / equipment / instrumentation] in the department[s]. Develops and modifies methods, Performs parallel testing. Establishes controls for validation of results. - Develops and/or acquires normal patient ranges. Makes recommendations to supervisor(s) and/or Medical Director as needed for testing products / equipment / instrumentation after statistical analysis and interpretation of method performance. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday, 0730-1600 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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. Education and/or Experience Combination: (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. 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. 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). 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). English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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: GS-7 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-9 (Full Performance Level) Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7, 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 2. 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. 3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. 4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. 5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. 6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. 7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. 8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9. 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 VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Adam Abbott
• Phone: 612-629-7067
• Email: [email protected]