Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center & subsidiary CBOCs.

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Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of professional medical technology/clinical laboratory science principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing sound independent work. Able to interpret and apply complex written instructions.
• Maintains accountability for tracking of all patient tests results, blood products, slides, and paperwork appropriately.
• Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
• Performs initial testing on all reagents received in Blood Bank, Coagulation and Hematology before reagents are put into use this includes lot to lot testing, parallel testing that is then presented to the director to review/approval before reagents/supplies can be put into use.
• Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of laboratory equipment and maintenance, troubleshoots, and repairs instrumentation to ensure correct instrument operation utilizing established procedures. Ensures appropriate quality control is performed and acceptable before release of patient lab results.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs, including proper documentation of the Corrective Action.
• Conducts quality control on reagents and products. Ensures proper records/documentation of quality control of reports/logs are completed per regulatory agencies/vendors.
• Uses independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results.
• Performs routine and STAT laboratory tests within the established time limits.
• Telephones Critical and other unusual test results to Clinician or provider with appropriate documentation.
• Reviews and investigates Delta Checks, flags, alerts, etc. and performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the provider and reports them directly and follows the proper Medical Center policies in record keeping of patient results.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.
• May attend and assist with Bone Marrow procedures in patient's rooms in the presence of healthcare provider and/or healthcare employees and possible family/friends. Process and prepare slides and specimens according to established protocol.
• May attend and assist with Therapeutic Phlebotomies in patient's rooms in the presence of healthcare provider and/or healthcare employees, and family/friends.
• Involved in statistical data collection, documentation, and/or administrative duties for records, reports, and Quality Assurance monitors. Maintain a detailed, accurate record in an organizational fashion, track activities, and process paperwork accurately and promptly.
• Able to organize work during heavy workload situations to expedite patient results. Prioritizes work between non-specimen activity and patient care.
• Maintains a positive attitude, willingness to work as a part of a team and be supportive of co-workers. Collaborates and works well with others.
• Able to respond to new procedures, processes, or equipment. Willingness to make changes to improve service.
• Processing, ordering, sending, and resulting of Send Outs.
• Develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met.
• Logs and stores reagents and supplies per standard operating procedures and maintains optimal inventory levels to prevent workflow interruptions of reagents, supplies and blood products.
• Maintains professional proficiency by participating in an approved proficiency testing program in compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Completes all Competency and assigned Medical Center educational hours to meet deadlines with satisfactory performance for each fiscal year.
• Assists in conducting of verifications and validations for new equipment, reagents, or tests brought into the department. Reports back to the supervisor or designee on progress and issues.

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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all the requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements: Must possess all of the below basic requirements for entry into this occupational series at any grade level:
Certification: Possess or meet (1) or (2) of the following:
(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).

Exception: Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed one year as a graduate medical technologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). This appointment may not be extended.

Education and/or Experience Combination: Do you have 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.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-7 (Entry Level)Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-09 (Full Performance Level): Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled.
Education: Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate, in their resume, the following KSAs:1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.2. 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.3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation.4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments.5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions.7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes.8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education.

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: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer, manual dexterity, visual acuity, color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time. Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations.

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.

NOTE: 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.

RESUME REMINDER - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. Please include transcripts and licensure/certification with your application package.

Please refer to USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my federal resume? for additional information on resume requirements. 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.