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

Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques. Requires competency in the areas of Blood Bank, Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Microbiology, Serology, Special Chemistry and Urinalysis. Monitors the quality control systems. Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensures discrepancies are identified and attended by troubleshooting instrument performance and/or QC material performance. Proposes solutions to remedy any deficiency discovered by QC tracking or proficiency testing results. Creates/updates procedure manuals utilized by the night shift, assuring continuous review of changing accreditation standards. Tests duties in all disciplines require the technologist to perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. Prepares reagents, assembles equipment, and verifies correct instrument operation. Maintains validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures. Correlates and integrates information and performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results. Involves accurate and timely completion of testing to provide relevant clinical information to physicians crucial to patient care. Involves various duties concerned with test performance, identification and correction of errors, evaluation/interpretation of test results, correlation of data and validation/verification of results. Considers such factors as the complex network of steps and variables and discrimination required by some tests; conditions which produce erroneous results, specimen properties, physical conditions, and time factors critical to the test; instrument malfunction and test procedure variations; and physiologic conditions that affect test results. Collects venous blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements. Judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements. Processes specimens and selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of type of specimens, patient information and resources available in the laboratory. Controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained. Shows mastery of the VA Laboratory computer software package (VISTA) as job assignments require. Demonstrates a working mastery of the functions of the CPRS system and Microsoft Internet, Word, and E-mail functions. Accessions and labels samples and subsamples, records data accurately in logs and worksheets with extreme attention to ID verification and accurate manual recording. Recognizes all critical value results and for the effective and immediate communication of those results to the patient's provider following all required steps and documentation. Masters the preventive maintenance requirements for a large number of instruments and testing systems. Resolves procedural, reagent and equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions, and previous experience. Practices require thorough understanding and adherence to all safety requirements as per regulatory laws. Serves the needs of other VA staff seeking advice on the proper ordering of tests, technical information about tests offered and interpretation of test results. Provides effective and professional training to new staff members on theoretical and practical aspects of procedures in use providing demonstration of laboratory practices. Consults with newer staff regarding abnormal or unusual results and advises on course of action. Maintains a professional currency through formal education and professional training and networking. Ensures the adequacy of the scientific knowledge applied in the performance of required tests. Annually attends/completes the required hours of mandatory training required by VA Grand Junction. Attends on-site and off-site instrument training schools (completing the expert level course, if offered). That expertise is then offered to other technical staff. Completes all inventory duties and supply ordering so as to assure continued availability of all tests in the serology menu making sure to allow for reagent problems that may develop. Work Schedule: M-F evening and nights 8, 10, 12 hour shifts, rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54101A Relocation Incentives: May be 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

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 inorganic 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 inorganic 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. OR 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 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). Grade Determinations: GS-10 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. 2. Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems. 3. Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements. 4. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. Advanced Staff Technologist MTs at this level perform more complex laboratory functions. Duties may include specific targeted laboratory responsibilities or projects such as laboratory safety officer, analyzer specialist, or quality control file maintenance. Duties may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: serves as primary operator on new test systems, assumes responsibility to maintain operations including preventive maintenance and training of technicians and technologists on the operation of the new test systems; assists in writing procedures and other documents as directed; oversight of the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level technologist or technician training programs in order to fulfill educational and professional requirements (where training programs exist); provides technical training and guidance to students, residents, staff and other employees; recommends updated guidelines and policies in compliance with regulatory requirements for non-routine or complex assignments; coordinates the laboratory competency program; and coordinates the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) laboratory proficiency/survey program. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24. 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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Cory Carter
• Phone: 702-791-9000 X15094
• Email: [email protected]