The Robert J. Dole VAMC is seeking a Medical Technologist to serve as Technical Specialist in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge.

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Technical Specialist in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. 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 diagnosis. 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. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique, and/or emerging tests requiring advanced knowledge extending beyond the duties of routine test performance. Performs routine, advanced, and complex departmental procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzers and corrects problems using scientific principles. Evaluates and interprets testing results to determine if the data obtained are complete and valid. Performs Quality Control and Quality Assurance data collected to identify, document, and take corrective action. Prepares reagents, primary reference material, and controls; equipment preventive maintenance and troubleshooting, if necessary, verifies correct instrument operation. Identifies unusual results or discrepancies/conditions which cause erroneous results. Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment, including point of care equipment. Uses, calibrates, identified malfunctions, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment. Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction. Assists laboratory supervisors in developing analytical methods and quality control procedures for new tests as they are introduced to Lab departments, as well as modifying existing procedures as testing requirements change. Participates in quality assurance efforts by identifying quality improvement indicators for laboratory operations. Develops a system to monitor indicators to effectively identify problem and/or potential problem areas. Recommends and implements corrective actions when indicated to improve patient care efforts of the P&LMS. Performs and reviews quality control procedures on departmental instrumentation and testing reagents by designing and implementing check systems to ensure accuracy of analytical systems. Evaluates check system results and initiates corrective action as indicated. Performs additional (daily/weekly/monthly) QC reviews. Develops, implements, and maintains procedure manuals (SOP) and record keeping systems (e.g., specimen accession and retention, instrument maintenance, quality control results, patient results, corrective actions) to assure compliance with standards as required by multiple laboratory accrediting agencies such as the Joint Commission (JC) and College of American Pathologists (CAP). Reviews regulatory compliance requirements - JC standards, CAP, Patient Safety Goals - and works with the Laboratory Supervisor and Laboratory Medical Director to implement policies and procedures to assure and maintain compliance. Work Schedule: M-F 6:30am-5pm Telework: Not available Travel: 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position. 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 The Robert J Dole VA Medical Center is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.

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. English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below. (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, 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). 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 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. 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: GS-11 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 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. Additionally, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing. 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. Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. Advanced knowledge of a particular discipline or function with wide latitude for exercising sound independent judgment. Preferred Experience: Prefer experience with higher level duties such as new method/analyzer set-up studies and implementation, development of corresponding analytic procedures and facilitation/training of student interns or new employees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as long periods of standing, bending over microscope, reaching for supplies or material, and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagent packs). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures) and color vision.

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 Robert J Dole VA Medical and Regional Office Center 5500 East Kellogg Drive Wichita, KS 67218 US
• Name: Eduardo Alva
• Phone: 316-469-0922
• Email: [email protected]