The incumbent serves as a Medical Laboratory Technician in the Roseburg VA Healthcare System Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services located at the North Bend VA clinic.

Duties

Specimen Collection and Processing: Performs phlebotomy and follows current CLSI guidelines. Ensures two patient identifiers and active communication are used with each blood draw and specimen collection. Draws tubes in the correct order in, accordance with the Medical Center policies and procedures. Organizes specimen collection lists, STAT, and timed draws, and reviews the collection list for uncollected orders and resolves the uncollected status. Processes specimens using complex instrumentation such as the centrifuges and transfers specimens to aliquot tubes for storage, shipping, or testing. Measures aliquots of body fluids, such as 24-hour urine, to store or prepare for testing. Provides efficient customer service to clients who contact the processing section by phone or in person. Able to answer questions without giving out confidential details, that would violate HIPPA regulations. Coordinates with Phlebotomists/Health Techs to ensure there is coverage where needed or where tasks need to be completed. Helps teach/ train new staff and phlebotomy students in accessioning and phlebotomy skills. Hematology: Operates instrumentation that performs blood cell testing with the newest methodologies which include impedance testing, flow cytometry, and immunochemical staining. The instrumentation is complex and performs 20 different tests simultaneously. The display and report must be interpreted utilizing the instrument report as well as interpretation of cellular staining characteristics and microscopic morphology of the peripheral blood smear. The technician is responsible for identifying abnormal cellular morphology that will provide the clinician with information related to disease processes and blood cell abnormalities to include leukemias and lymphomas which requires independent expertise. The technician will also perform manual cell counts on body fluids, sedimentation rates on blood, cytocentrifugation preparations, and crystal examinations on body fluids utilizing polarized microscopy. Urinalysis: Operates instrumentation for semi-quantitative and quantitative measurements of chemical and cellular constituents in urine specimens. This area also includes urine microscopy examinations by phase contrast, urine drug screen analysis, pregnancy tests, and bilirubin testing on positive urinalysis specimens. Coagulation Operates a variety of complex instrumentation. The technician must have the necessary skills to program and troubleshoot the instrumentation. The technician must be responsible for the operation of the analyzers to include calibrations, preventative maintenance, quality control test performance, and proficiency testing. Maintain Equipment/Supplies/Facilities: Maintains and documents the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies. Determines compliance with safety requirements establishes inventory and equipment maintenance requirements and maintains appropriate inventories and maintenance schedules. Maintains laboratory stock and orders materials, as needed. Maintains laboratory in a clean and safe condition according to agency or accreditation requirements. Calibrates and maintains laboratory instrumentation on timely intervals to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures. Performs troubleshooting on the instrumentation from basic procedures. Must use experience, education, and knowledge to extrapolate troubleshooting procedures with only minimal procedures or instructions. Conducts work according to Laboratory Safety Regulations and instructs coworkers and students on safety policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 07:30am to 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed. Education or Experience. Candidates must successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. Certification. Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists, or American Association of Bioanalysts. Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the MLT occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, which may also result in separation from employment. 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). GS-07 Grade Determinations: Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level. 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). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of techniques to instruct students and newly hired staff to properly perform tests and application of laboratory procedures. Skill in conducting laboratory procurement procedures to maintain appropriate levels of reagent and supply inventories. Ability to provide technical oversight to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. Ability to plan staff training to address needs. Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Lead MLTs independently perform duties of significant scope and complexity and assist with technician oversight. Lead MLTs lead three or more lab support positions, provide direction to the daily operations and assume responsibility for integrating and monitoring standard laboratory protocols to maintain continuous workflow and quality within the unit. Lead MLTs must do a combination of at least three of the following duties: prepare work schedules and assign tasks to ensure timely completion of duties; ensure laboratory resources are in optimal working condition and address workflow needs; provide guidance and support of the work unit in supervisory absence; train personnel (including students) in methods, procedures and use of equipment and instruments specific to the assigned area; provide input to supervisor on performance and training needs of employees; adjust work assignments due to absences or changes in priorities; resolve simple, informal complaints of employees and patients, refer more difficult problems to the supervisor; and recommend approval and/or disapproval of leave requests. Preferred Experience: References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, APPENDIX G-69 Physical Requirements: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, sitting over a microscope, concentrating for long periods of time while reading specimens, and standing for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires lifting of reagent containers weighing up to 35 pounds. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

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

Contacts

• Address Roseburg VA Medical Center 913 Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard Roseburg, OR 97471 US
• Name: Patricia Murphy
• Phone: (505) 265-1711 X3703
• Email: [email protected]