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 include but are not limited to: Accepts responsibility in a specialty area such as safety, quality improvement, training or other as assigned and in conjunction with the supervisor, provides oversight of the section assignment. Receives training for a complex analytical instrument or procedures and is responsible for training other employees in its operation, is consulted as the shift expert for troubleshooting problems and coordinate shift competency checks. Evaluates quality control protocols for performance of tests ad evaluation of results. Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems or is responsible for the implementation and oversight of a test system on an off shift. Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results. Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements. Performs all of the elements for quality improvement assessment such as data collection and evaluation, graphical and verbal presentation, and recommendation for action/solution. Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient. Provides advisory services to technicians, technologists, and other specialists relative to higher knowledge acquired through continuing education and work experience. Work Schedule: 9:00pm-7:30am,10 hours shift for 4 days per week with flexibility on rotating weekends. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000000 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

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 (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. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. Preferred Experience: Is knowledgeable in clinical laboratory regulatory and accreditation requirements. Has experience teaching and training new students or staff. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Medical Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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. 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. Assignment MTs at this level generally have a higher level of professional oversight responsibilities and may have responsibility for a specific large-scale automated analytical instrument system; a specific area of laboratory functions, such as employee competency records, supply functions, laboratory safety, quality control review, new method development or employee or student training; or provide professional and technical advice to other technicians and technologists on alternate tours of duty. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 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-10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10.

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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Timothy McBrian
• Email: [email protected]