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

Major duties for the position include (but are not limited to): The Send Out Technologist may be called upon to function as a Medical Technologist as needed. Responsibilities include all functions that are within the training and scope of duties generally performed by a Medical Technologist / Clinical Laboratory Scientist, and include, but are not limited to, any of the following: Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing, reporting, documentation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and other tasks of the medical laboratory technology occupation. Performs the full range of Sendout Section procedures including specimen accessioning, processing, distribution, manifest preparation, specimen storage, packaging, report verification, and report entry. Completes Training for Shipping Dangerous Goods (Category A & B). Implements and follows safety, Infection Control, OSHA, International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Joint Commission and DVA requirements concerning specimen processing and shipping and complies with regulations of CAP, AABB, FDA, and all other relevant regulatory bodies. Develops procedures and protocols for sending out testing, evaluating validity of reference lab results, and reporting outside reports in the VA electronic Health Record (EHR) Contacts Reference Labs as needed for test information, pricing, shipping requirements, and report issues (clarification to comments, demographic corrections, reporting delays and cancellations)Communicates with providers as needed to seek demographic information, patient history, and clarification of testing being requested. Seeks approval from Pathologists for new tests and testing over the budget threshold. Processes reference lab samples to assure all sample requirements are met. Prepares manual testing requisitions and electronic manifests as appropriate. Packs and ships all sample types to reference laboratories following all policies and procedures. Packs and ships slides and blocks to the Joint Pathology center (JPC) for consultation. Packs blood, glass slides, or paraffin blocks for genetic testing. Packs and sends PAPs for interpretation at an outside reference laboratory. Tracks samples and scans results into the electronic medical record. Packs and ships Glass Slides to other VA facilities for QC review. Reconciles incomplete testing lists for all sendout laboratories and VA Reference Laboratories. Tracks packages, checks incomplete lists, reports test results, and communicates with providers as appropriate for send-out concerns and issues. Resolves lost and delayed package occurrences. Notifies providers as appropriate of lost samples or cancelled tests. Receives and enters electronic and manual reports from Reference Laboratories Notifies Providers of significant and Critical Values as appropriate Monitors turn-around times of Reference Lab Reports Escorts couriers to the lab and delivers samples to couriers. Receives blood products from drop off points. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm (with rotating weekend and holiday coverage, as needed) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 629-00624-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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. Education/ Experience: 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. 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: Must have 1 year of creditable experience in the specialty (Medical Technology) which would be the equivalent to performing the job at grade level (GS-07), which is directly related to the position to be filled OR a Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. In addition to these requirements, candidates must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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 Assignment. This is considered the full performance level for nonsupervisory positions. A MT at this level carries out the day-to-day operations in the laboratory. This would include 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. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. These require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory healthcare professionals and the public in a professional, courteous and effective manner. Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate would have a MT/MLS (ASCP) with at least 2 years of full-time experience sending out a high volume of testing from a large clinical laboratory to reference laboratories. This experience should include Anatomic Pathology samples as well as Clinical samples. The candidate should have experience entering results into the Electronic Health Record and should be comfortable calling clinicians to obtain additional demographic data or information regarding desired testing. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24 May 12, 2014 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Education

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Andrea Auguster
• Phone: 5045077583
• Email: [email protected]