Ancillary Testing is defined as laboratory testing or services performed within the Medical Center and its outreach clinics outside of the main laboratory. The Ancillary Testing Coordinator is the technical advisor to all ancillary testing sites and is the principal coordinator for the Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS).

Duties

The Ancillary Testing Coordinator serves as the Safety Officer for the laboratory service and ensures that all safety policies and procedures meet the requirements of laboratory and hospital regulatory agencies, and that all service staff are in compliance with safety standards. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: (a) Serves as the technical expert to in areas of quality control/assurance, records control, proficiency testing, inspection, and accreditation to all levels of the organization relative to point of care testing. Is proficient in performing all point of care tests to assess operations and troubleshoot problems. (b) Performs method verification and validation studies with statistical software/programs . Performs all method correlations required by VA and accrediting agencies. (c) Develops training and oversight which ensure accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies concerning patient testing, result reporting, and proficiency testing. Develops and implements corrective action when deficiencies are identified. (d) Consults with clinical program managers to identify ancillary testing needs and implement appropriate methods. (e) Develops an implementation and documentation plan for Ancillary Testing sites as part of a continuous quality improvement effort. Investigates and resolves instrument and procedural problems. (f) Develops and maintains an updated listing of all number and types of ancillary instruments in use throughout the organization; develops and maintains policy and procedure manuals in these areas for use by testing personnel. (g) Assures compliance with the following patient test management requirements: proper patient identification, adherence to proper test performance protocols, accurate and timely reporting of test results, and assurance of adequate test systems governing the maintenance and storage of test reports. (h) Set up and maintain a web-based system for training and competency that is available to all users of Point of Care Testing. (i) Serves as a recognized technical expert (technical consultant or technical supervisor as mandated by CLIA) to provide authoritative laboratory advice and ancillary testing program consultation in areas of quality control/assurance, records control, proficiency testing, inspection, and accreditation to all levels of the organization. (j) Identifies, defines, and independently resolves problems associated with unique or controversial aspects of the ancillary testing management program. (k) Serves as the Safety Officer for the laboratory; ensures all safety policies and procedures are current and compliant with safety regulations of CAP, The Joint Commission, FDA, and OSHA. (l) Conducts regular safety training sessions for all service staff; performs periodic safety reviews throughout the laboratory work environment and takes appropriate and timely action for identified needs. Serves as the service representative on the hospital safety committee. (m) Maintains records of laboratory injuries and accidents and ensures all staff are compliant with established safety protocol. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30AM - 4:00PM, Subject to change based on the needs of the agency. 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 or clinical laboratory experience as described in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. 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 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. Grade Determinations: GS-12Experience Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices and methodologies sufficient to perform the full range of maintenance of technical, quality assurance and safety accreditation/testing programs. (b) Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing and a grasp of complex laboratory testing issues. (c) Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement. (d) Knowledge of the types of surveillance, ability to collect data necessary to monitor variables that affect quality of services, and skill in evaluating, interpreting and teaching others to use quality control procedures and implementing corrective actions. (e) Knowledge of Federal, VHA, and state laws, regulations, reference standards, medicolegal responsibilities, and certifying and accrediting agency requirements in order to carry out the work in each ancillary testing site. (f) Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity. Assignment The incumbent develops and recommends policies and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing (testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory as mandated by VHA) including ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained in off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). The ATC consults with program managers or equivalent of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs and to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods, serving as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation. The ATC develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, ensuring accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, result reporting and proficiency testing including reports, monitors and continuous performance improvement initiatives. Evaluates ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines identifying, defining and resolving issues associated with complex aspects of the data and problems associated with unique aspects of the ancillary testing management program. The ATC has knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements, performs and evaluates instruments, performs validation studies, recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program, develops and implements corrective action when deficiencies are identified and coordinates inventory management, supply acquisition and contracts. Preferred Experience: Experience with statistical software/programs to perform method verification and validation studies, such as EP Evaluator. Experience with proficiency testing exception responses. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72, PART II, APPENDIX G24. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-644, Veterans Health Administration, May 12, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds.

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 Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US
• Name: Tearia Hill
• Phone: 504-547-2869
• Email: [email protected]