The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) position is assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System. The purpose of this position is to perform sample collection and accessioning procedures, accurate and reliable clinical laboratory analytic procedures and to ultimately provide timely test results to physicians and providers.

Duties

MLTs may perform testing in one or more of the following areas: phlebotomy, specimen processing, referral laboratory, toxicology, urinalysis, hematology, immunohematology, clinical, chemistry immunology, microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing, and specimen processing. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Perform blood and body fluid collection for a wide range of diagnostic laboratory tests. Act as liaison between laboratory, pathologists, physicians, patients, and customers and refer questions appropriately when necessary. Receive, sort, verify, process, and distribute specimens according to established guidelines. Conduct necessary quality control procedures and ensures all quality control values are within established limits prior to performing any laboratory procedure. Participate in training and mentoring for new employees and students in accordance with practices. Consult with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow where specimens are inadequate for testing. Accession send out samples, collect, and preserve specimens according to method requirements. Adhere to safety, infection control and standard precautions while drawing blood, handling specimens, or performing testing. Maintains laboratory stock and orders materials, as needed. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Part-Time, 7am-11am, Monday through Friday Schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the Service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations. American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) ASCP, Board of Certification ASCP, Board of Registry American Medical Technologists American Association of Bioanalysts Note: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c) without the option to extend. Grade Determinations: Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-05 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. None. Assignment: This is an entry-level developmental MLT position. MLTs will typically receive guidance from experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. MLTs at this level perform testing in one or more of the following areas: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing, phlebotomy, hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, toxicology, urinalysis, referral laboratory, microbiology, and specimen processing. MLTs recognize data with life-threatening (critical) implications and understand the importance of immediately bringing the data to the attention of the patient's physician and/or nursing staff. Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-06. Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of MLT principles, practices, concepts, and theories for sound independent work. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems. Ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments. Ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results. Ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions. Ability to consult with other members of the health care team, patients, and external customers. Assignment: At the full performance level, MLTs use independent judgment to perform the full range of duties in the laboratory, from sample collection to evaluating and communicating test results. MLTs perform day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care. This includes providing pre-analytic instructions to patients, VA staff and other external entities related to collection and processing of laboratory specimens. MLTs use processing techniques such as centrifugation, aliquoting, storage and packaging (considering stability factors), and they accurately label and sort patient specimens. MLTs operate and maintain all instrumentation in assigned areas to deliver precise, timely and accurate laboratory results when analyzing body fluids such as blood, urine, and tissue samples. MLTs at this level analyze laboratory findings and issue necessary reports. The results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures are discussed with supervisors, pathologists and other medical professionals as needed. References: VA Handbook 5005/158 Part II Appendix G69 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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).

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Tanya Pantoja
• Phone: 980-892-1321
• Email: [email protected]