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. Program 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

**A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant** This position is in the Hematology Section of the Laboratory. The Medical Technologist, Technical Specialist directs a specific work section or sections in the laboratory service. The Medical Technologist, Technical Specialist, performs routine and STAT testing on blood, urine, and other body fluids and ensures staff assigned to the section perform duties in a timely and accurate manner. The incumbent is responsible for the training of subordinate staff in these lab sections. The incumbent is also responsible for compliance with all applicable accrediting agency requirements. The laboratory provides diagnostic services in support of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Major duties include: Processes and evaluates specimen suitability for testing. Tests, verifies, and reports patient test results in accordance with established protocols. Performs special testing, with interpretation of special test results. Recognizes and responds to indications of malfunctions in testing and reporting. Immediately compares current test results to prior test results for acceptability. Reports critical results in accordance with established protocols. Determines specific assay protocols and specific instrument systems to be used. Modifies, adapts, and implements new testing methodologies to meet laboratory service needs. Assures each methodology in use will meet all accrediting agency requirements, including precision and accuracy and appropriate reference range values. Develops and maintains current and complete procedure manuals for each testing system used. Provides technical training to appropriate staff regarding new and existing procedures. Establishes and maintains Quality Control (QC) practices to assure each methodology conforms to defined limits. Reviews all QC results for acceptability and responds in a timely manner to out-of-control QC results, documenting effective corrective action. Troubleshoots and resolves instrument and procedural problems, with supportive documentation, to maintain diagnostic laboratory services in support of patient care. Maintains an effective supply inventory system. Practices cost-effective management of supplies. Compiles detailed workload reports as requested by supervisor. Actively participates in service Quality Improvement activities, by collecting, analyzing, and reporting various data. Provides technical advice to providers of care regarding test methodologies, interpretation of results, and educational information as requested. Utilizes computer systems as needed to perform duties assigned. Complies with all rules to ensure data security and confidentiality of patient records. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotating holidays and weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 570-02408A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Susan Bringel at [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 and/or Experience Combination: (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. Certification. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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 for GS-11: (a) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR, (b) Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. Technical Specialist. The incumbent serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/genetic testing, bone marrow examination, and flow cytometry. Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses. Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Applies policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain the specialized testing. The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal requirements and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests. b. Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing. c. Advanced knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired technologists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of the laboratory procedures. d. Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. e. Advanced knowledge of a particular discipline or function with wide latitude for exercising sound independent judgment. Preferred Experience: Knowledgeable in clinical hematology laboratory regulatory and accreditation requirements Experience in validating a new clinical hematology laboratory instrument for use Experience in teaching and training new medical technologists and/or students in a hematology lab Highly organized and ability to multi-task effectively Knowledgeable in reviewing hematology calibration and QC data and notice trends prior to them affecting patient results. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers and both hands, walking, standing for up to 4 hours, kneeling, repeated bending, use of both arms and legs. Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors, hearing (aids permitted), clear, high cognitive function and emotional stability; ability to read ordinary type without strain.

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 Fresno VA Medical Center 2615 East Clinton Avenue Fresno, CA 93703 US
• Name: Dana Mitchell
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X25781
• Email: [email protected]