This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

Medical Technologist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator), GS-12 Duties include but are not limited to the following description: The incumbent is a qualified, experienced Medical Technologist who serves as the Ancillary Testing Coordinator for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. Ancillary testing is defined as laboratory testing or services within a VA Medical Center or its outreach functions at CBOCs that is performed outside the physical facilities of the main clinical laboratory. The incumbent develops and recommends policies and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing, including ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained in all sites. The incumbent serves as the technical advisor to all ancillary testing sites. The incumbent maintains adequate skills to work in Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Phlebotomy, Microbiology and logging in surgical/cytology specimens. Incumbent also supports the laboratory manager and serves as acting supervisor. Functions include but are not limited to the following description: The ATC consults with the laboratory Director of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs and to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods, serving as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation. The ATC develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, ensuring accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, result reporting and proficiency testing including reports, monitors and continuous performance improvement initiatives. Acts as the technical supervisor for quality control, records control, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation for ancillary testing on a hospital-wide basis and oversees the safe and accurate testing of outreach function patients in the clinic. Assesses data needed, designs data collection procedures, identifies quality assurance monitors and indicators, and reviews all data analyzed with the laboratory Director. Knowledge of the types of surveillance, ability to collect data necessary to monitor variables that affect quality of services, and skill in evaluation, interpreting and teaching others to use quality control procedures and implementing corrective actions. Knowledge of Federal, VHA and state laws, regulations, reference standards and medico legal responsibilities, and certifying and accrediting agency requirements in order to carry out the work in each ancillary testing site. Performs statistical analysis (variations, standard deviation, trend analysis) on quality control and quality assurance data collected to identify, document, and takes corrective action when needed. Serves as a member of the Ancillary Testing Committee. Implements and monitors protocols established in M-2, part VI, chapter 10, "Ancillary Testing", for quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, linearity, equipment maintenance, and user competency for all testing. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity. Ensures that current mandatory hours of continuing education, training modules and additional education hours required by the facility are completed. In addition to assisting laboratory manager on various tasks, serves as first line acting supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 631-F2128 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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 Proficiency: Proficiency in spoken and written English is required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407(d). Education and/or Experience Combination: 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, 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. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in the paragraph above. This finding may be based on either of the following: A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its Bachelor of Medical Technology degree. A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. Certification: Candidates must have the below: 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: Medical Technologist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator), GS-12 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Assignment: The incumbent develops and recommends policies and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary testing (testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory as mandated by VHA) including ensuring CLIA licenses are maintained in off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). The ATC consults with program managers or equivalent of clinical services to identify ancillary testing needs and to analyze emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods, serving as a recognized technical expert to provide authoritative advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment and ancillary testing program consultation. The ATC develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, ensuring accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies for patient testing, result reporting and proficiency testing including reports, monitors and continuous performance improvement initiatives. Evaluates ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines identifying, defining and resolving issues associated with complex aspects of the data and problems associated with unique aspects of the ancillary testing management program. The ATC has knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements, performs and evaluates instruments, performs validation studies, recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program, develops and implements corrective action when deficiencies are identified and coordinates inventory management, supply acquisition and contracts. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires moderate standing, stooping, pushing, pulling, walking, reaching over-head, bending, lifting light/moderate objects and to have good visual acuity and appropriate hearing for a mechanized environment. The work involves constant exposure to biohazards and chemical hazards in a controlled environment.

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 Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]