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 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.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjusts work procedures. Chooses methods for achieving work goals, objectives, and management strategies. Day-to-day supervision of highly complex test performance. Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure acceptable levels of performance. Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance deviates from established performance specifications. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Recommends appointment, plans and assigns work, gives advice and counsel, and evaluates work of subordinates.- Recognizes and defines testing problems and evaluates methods for solution. Determines procedures for tests to be performed in the unit. Develops and implements the use of protocols for performance and test and evaluation of results. Monitors conformity to protocols. Establishes record keeping systems to assure the accuracy and validity of test results. Facilitates preparation of medical documentation that meets professional standards and accreditation agency requirements. Obtains analytical data and evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures. Creates, uses, or modifies logic schema to determine corrective actions for problems. Establishes and maintains record keeping systems, controls specimen accession through the computer system to ensure accuracy of data input and output. Writes laboratory reports identifying sample and stating method and results, and reports results to the appropriate individual. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections. Develops procedures and establishes parameters for correlation of test results and preset troubleshooting protocols.- Assesses data needed, designs data collection procedures, identifies parameters and determines acceptable range for each parameter. Evaluates, modifies, or adapts new methods or revises standard techniques to improve or expand accuracy, precision, specificity, or proficiency of analyses.- Integrates and correlates test data with other laboratory and patient data to lead to a conclusion about the normality of a system. Improves the efficiency and quality of the laboratory services. Ensures criteria represents acceptable standards of quality and can be measured, controlled, collected, evaluated, etc., in an efficient manner. Monitors the quality control system. Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data; ensures discrepancies are identified and attended to. Solves testing problems, develops new solutions to testing problems, performs newer/more complex tests and examinations. Establishes professional standards that comply with accreditation agency guidelines. Establishes standards and writes instructions for calibrating and standardizing instruments and equipment. Provides effective and professional training to medical technicians, student medical technologists, physician residents, etc. Provides instruction consisting of new laboratory procedures and techniques. Assesses the competency of subordinates and provides specific instruction aimed at improving any deficiencies identified.- Maintains a professional currency through formal education and professional training and networking. Evaluates new techniques or practices and determines the feasibility of implementing them in the local laboratory. Work Schedule: Varying Tours, Weekends and Holidays as needed Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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.

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 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 (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. Certification: In addition to the basic requirements above, candidates must currently possess the appropriate *certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (*certification must be uploaded or appropriate consideration). Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic and Certification requirements, applicant must meet the grade level (specialized experience). For assignment at the GS 12 grade level the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 11) which is directly related to the position to be filled. Knowledge, Skill and Abilities: In addition to the above Basic and Grade level experience, candidates must also demonstrate the following KSA's: 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. Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing and a grasp of complex laboratory testing issues. Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement. 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. 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. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, moderate carrying, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, both legs required (one leg or foot may be compensated by prosthesis), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), good distant vision in 1 eye and ability to read printed material the size of typewritten character-glasses permitted. Work inside, solvents, electrical energy, working with hands in water (wearing gloves), explosives, working closely with others.

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 Beckley VA Medical Center 200 Veterans Avenue Beckley, WV 25801 US
• Name: James Caine
• Phone: 503-459-2594
• Email: [email protected]