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

This position is located in the James J. Peters VA Medical Center functioning as a Technical Specialist in the General Hematology Section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LM), with the primary responsibility to provide the patients at the medical center with testing in the areas of Hematology, Urinalysis, Coagulation, and Special Hematology studies diagnostics in support of direct patient care. Some Duties include but are not limited to: Performs work in the Clinical Laboratory A. Administers Tests/Laboratory Procedures Recognizes and defines testing problems and evaluates methods for solution. Evaluates guides or implements possible alternative approaches to standard methods. Evaluates requested procedures to determine the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requests new specimen(s) if determined to be unacceptable/unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state and properties are maintained. Prepares reagents and primary reference material. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of non-routine and specialized test procedures in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunctions; locates and implements correction. Accurately performs all routine, complex and specialized procedures within specified period. Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques. B. Provides Instruction Provides effective and professional training to new hire medical technologists/technicians and other clinical staff on the theoretical and practical aspects of hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis in unique handling of specimens and testing procedures. Stays abreast of new developments and changes in the profession. Provides on-the-job demonstration of laboratory practices and explains procedures to new medical technologist/technicians and other clinical staff. Accepts referrals of abnormal and unusual results and observations from new laboratory personnel and advises on course of action. C. Establish Quality Control Criteria Performs and monitors quality control and measures to assure the accuracy and validity of test results. Prepares reagents, assembles equipment, and verifies correct instrument operation. Maintains validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures. Correlates and integrates information and performs additional testing to confirm abnormal or unusual testing results. D. Monitors Quality Monitors quality control system daily. Ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensures discrepancies are identified and attended. Obtains data and complies with the practice, procedures and techniques described in the quality improvement program. Adheres to quality control measures, suggests new and revised methods of collecting and evaluating quality control data. E. Reports Findings Maintains established record keeping systems to assure the accuracy and validity of patient testing results and data. Prepares preliminary and final reports. Reports medical alerts according to established criteria. Enters results into medical center computer system, verifying accuracy, completeness, and validity in the process, and reports results to appropriated individual. Shall troubleshoot instrumentation and procedures in the effort to maintain an efficient workflow. Shall assist in updating and maintaining assigned laboratory section procedure manuals and protocol. F. Shall maintain and order Will inventory supplies for assigned section per established schedule. Will effectively utilize resources within established budget. Shall participate in the evaluation and selection of equipment, methods, and procedures needed for the assigned clinical section. Participates in the selection of all instruments and methods used in assigned clinical section G. Shall assist in orienting new employees Will assist with/maintain documentation of competency of staff, which performs testing within the Clinical Laboratory. Assists with/documents all training of new employees and reports to the Hematology Supervisor/Chief, Pathology and Laboratory Program of results, completes evaluation form. Perform other duties as assigned. Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: 8a.m-4:30p.m, rotating weekends and some holidays EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected],, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Telework: This is not a Telework position Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement # 11611F 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. (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 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 paragraph 2b(2) or (3) above. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) 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. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. 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). 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). English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-11 Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) (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. 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: 5 year experience working as a medical technologist 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 involves regular and recurring physical exertion, such as standing for long periods of time, use of microscopes, some lifting loading and unloading reagent packs, sitting at desk, counter, or bench top with operations of the computer terminals, telephones, and various workstations associated with the respective instrumentations in use. It's required to always follow special safety precautions (Standard Precautions) in the laboratory where the risk of exposure to contagious disease, carcinogenic materials, caustic reagents, noxious fumes, and flammable liquids. It's required to use personal protective equipment or gear, such as laboratory coats, aprons, gloves safety goggles, face shields, chemical fume, and biological hoods, and adopt sterile techniques in the daily work environment. Work Environment: Work is performed in a laboratory setting with a moderate to high risk that requires universal safety precautions: the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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 Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Aleni Salcedo
• Phone: 917 859 9405
• Email: [email protected]