This position as a Medical Technologist is aligned under the Specialty & Diagnostic Service at the Chillicothe OH VAMC. Incumbent in this position functions as a "generalist" in the various sections of the laboratory. The technologist may work in areas such as hematology (including coagulation), bacteriology, mycology, virology, parasitology, immunology, serology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry (including endocrinology and toxicology) and urinalysis.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be August 19, 2022 and applicants will be referred on bi-weekly basis after that. NOTE: Announcement will remain open until no longer needed but no later than December 30, 2022. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Perform, advise on, or supervise clinical laboratory testing of human blood, urine, and other body fluids or tissues. Interpret and apply complex written instructions. Use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. use manual and automated techniques to confirm test results. Develop data that physicians may use to determine the presence and extent of disease. maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory equipment. Establish and monitor quality control systems and measures Teach basic theory, technical skills, and application of laboratory test procedures or equipment. Communicate, consult, and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service, and patient education. Perform, advise on, or supervise clinical laboratory testing of human blood, urine, and other body fluids or tissues. Responsible for adhering to all VA and Pathology and Laboratory Service policies regarding Cyber Security. Communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, all medical center staff, and all non-medical center contacts) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Actively participates in Continuing Education annually completing all required medical center training sessions, laboratory safety and chemical hygiene training, and professional CE. Obtains blood samples by venipuncture or dermal puncture; prepares the samples for analysis; assures that proper specimens are obtained, and physiological properties and test requirements are maintained until the actual testing is performed; checks requisition for proper patient and specimen data; when necessary obtains new specimens after informing appropriate personnel. Monitors the performance of various tests and quality control reagents according to written procedures. Operates, calibrates, standardizes and performs preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments. Recognizes instrument malfunctions and troubleshoots minor problems using standard procedures; contacts trouble desk using hotline when appropriate; notifies supervisor of problems and steps taken to fix problems. Recognizes critical (panic) values and reports values to the clinical staff in a timely fashion; handles STAT specimens in accordance to laboratory policies; performs additional testing as appropriate to confirm abnormal results when necessary according to established guidelines; documents reporting of all called values. Maintains appropriate records consisting of specimen accessioning, instrument maintenance, problems, and other data as appropriate. Documents all corrective actions or unusual/unexpected test results, etc. Work Schedule: rotating weekends, evenings, and day shift Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-07: 92320-A and GS-09: 91781-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: **Recruitment Incentive authorized for highly qualified candidates** EDRP Authorized: No longer authorized at this time. 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. Foreign education: See information located in education section of announcement. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2): (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level (GS-9), candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to, chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e. g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). Grandfathering Provision: All MTs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Additional details outlined below. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, VA Handbook 5005. 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: To qualify for the GS-7 grade level, you must meet the above listed education and/or experience combination listed above under the basic qualifications. This is considered an entry level position. Employees at this level serve in an entry level Medical Technologist career development position practicing under close supervision of a Medical Technologist at or above the full performance level. To qualify for the GS-9 grade level, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Creditable experience is defined as experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled. Examples may include serving as an entry level employee in a career development position practicing under close supervision of a Medical Technologist. OR, Have a Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. In addition, to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24, DATED MAY 12, 2014 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09. Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The work requires long periods of standing and walking. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 251bs. Patient mental status and physical habitus will require the incumbent to be able to assist patients during transfer that is required of examinations. Specific vision abilities required by this job function include but are not limited are close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Chillicothe VA Medical Center 17273 State Route 104 Chillicothe, OH 45601 US
• Name: Emily Goben
• Phone: 317-778-9233
• Email: [email protected]