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The San Francisco VA Health Care system is recruiting for a full-time Medical Technologist within the Laboratory Medicine Service.

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.

Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position.

1. Develops and recommends policy and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary or point-of-care testing (Testing outside the main laboratory as mandated by Handbook 1106.1) equipment and instrumentation. Ensure the appropriate correlation among different instrumentation and methodologies
2. Trains and evaluates the competency of a variety of individuals (physicians, residents, nurses, patients) in the performance of ancillary testing procedures and in the reporting of test results promptly, accurately, and proficiently.
3. Serves as a recognized technical expert (technical consultant or technical supervisor as mandated by CLIA) to provide authoritative advice and ancillary testing program consultation in areas of quality control/assurance, records control, proficiency testing, inspection, and accreditation to all levels of the organization.
4. Evaluates ancillary testing activities to assess ongoing day-to-day compliance with established protocols and guidelines. Recommends policy/protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program.
5. Creates, applies, and monitors reengineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives, both within the program and/or the organization. 6. Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of the data and ensures the validity of data in relation to the test systems.
7. 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.
8. Identifies, defines, and resolves problems associated with unique or controversial aspects of the ancillary testing management program where no direct precedent exists.
9. Develops technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, which ensure accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies concerning patient testing, result reporting, and proficiency testing. Develops and implements corrective action when deficiencies are identified.


Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 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 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:GS-12- Ancillary Testing Coordinator (ATC) 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.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

a. Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices and methodologies sufficient to perform the full range of maintenance of technical, quality assurance and safety accreditation/testing programs.
b. Skill in applying new scientific/technological developments and theories to laboratory testing and a grasp of complex laboratory testing issues.
c. Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as related to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection and accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
d. Knowledge of the types of surveillance, ability to collect data necessary to monitor variables that affect quality of services, and skill in evaluating, interpreting and teaching others to use quality control procedures and implementing corrective actions.
e. Knowledge of Federal, VHA, and state laws, regulations, reference standards, medicolegal responsibilities, and certifying and accrediting agency requirements in order to carry out the work in each ancillary testing site.
f. Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity.

Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments:

Preferred Experience : Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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). Candidates must have impeccable communication skills and must be able to work with a team catering to internal and external customers.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72, PART II, APPENDIX G24. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-644, Veterans Health Administration, May 12, 2014.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary and standing while performing testing. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as instruments, reagents, papers, books, small parts;

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.