Job opening: Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician
Salary: $49 025 - 63 733 per year
Published at: Feb 20 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Medical Technician position is assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at Prescott VAMC. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures, and collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Duties
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Medical Laboratory Technician: https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf
Duties: Major duties include but are not limited to:
Prepares reports, maintains records, and performs administrative duties as assigned. Prepares and presents work-related information to technical specialists and supervisors.
Performs moderate and high-complexity qualitative and quantitative testing in all assigned laboratory specialty areas.
Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles. Recognizes and communicates predefined critical results affecting patient care.
Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis considering physiologic processes and requirements.
Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment. Uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction.
Performs and documents quality control and quality assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement.
Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.
Ensures compliance with rules and regulations of assorted regulatory agencies such as CAP, TJC, AABB, and OSHA.
Identifies discrepancies, solves problems, and suggests solutions.
Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results, interprets results and suggests follow up test selection or procedures.
Assists with instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's in-service/continuing education program.
Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients, and others). Gives direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing.
Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
Performs additional duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 2:00pm to 10:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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. 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. OR ASCP, Board of Registry
American Medical Technologists
American Association of Bioanalysts
NOTE: Certification MUST be submitted with application package.
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).
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met for this position:
Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-07
Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes
Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
Assignments: MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. 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. They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including, but not limited to, advanced blood banking (antibody titers, elutions), advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities, Mycology Identification, Virology, Anaerobic Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing), molecular testing, high complexity testing, recording workload statistics, quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies. Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites. Their duties consist of advanced operation, training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems. MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation
References: VA Handbook 5005/158, Part 2, Appendix G69,MEDICAL TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0645 Veteran's Health Administration
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.
Physical Requirements: Requires mostly standing, bending, sitting, and walking throughout the hospital all day. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
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 Bob Stump VA Medical Center
500 Highway 89 North
Prescott, AZ 86313
US
- Name: Queen Dimas
- Phone: 562-826-8000
- Email: [email protected]
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