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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. 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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 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 paragraph 2b(2) or (3) 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 either (1) or (2) below: 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). 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. For grade levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 2d(1) above. Failure to Obtain Certification. In all cases, MTs must actively pursue meeting prerequisites for certification from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the MT with the written requirement to obtain certification, the date by which the certification must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to become certified within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0644 MT series .Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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-7 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-9 (Full Performance Level) 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. OR Education. Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 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. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Preferred Experience: 1 year experience as a generalist preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 II-G24-1 [APPENDIX G24. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-644 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: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Standing, 4 hours; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Mental/emotional stability; Working around machinery with moving parts; Working closely with others ["Chemistry Performs a broad spectrum of clinical chemistry, toxicology, drug monitoring, urinalysis, and blood gas procedures utilizing a wide range of technologies including chromatography, electrophoresis, light microscopy, immunoassay, spectrophotometry, potentiometry, and flow cytometry. Interpret electrophoretic patterns related to the presence of special proteins or compounds. Standardizes and performs a variety (over 130 assays available) of complex STAT and routine assays. Processes specimens from the local Medical Center as well as Department of Defense and other Veteran hospital/clinic partners using manual or highly automated robotic methods. Specimen Collection and Processing Uses two patient identifiers and active communication when identifying patients for blood draw and all other specimen collection processes. Draws tubes in the correct order in accordance with Medical Center laboratory policies and procedures. Organizes the ward specimen collection lists, STAT and timed draws and reviews the collection list for uncollected orders and resolves the uncollected status. Processes specimens using the equipment, instruments and techniques required to prepare them for specific analysis, controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to insure that the physiologic integrity of the specimen is maintained. Identifies unusual results or discrepancies/conditions that cause erroneous results (e.g. instrument malfunctions, improper test conditions, specimen appropriateness and viability) Investigates and documents processing, labeling, collection and other specimen errors using problem report forms; packages and ships diagnostic specimens to reference labs. Evaluates the validity of the result in relation to the test system, assay procedure, age and gender of patient Blood Banking Adheres to the proper patient identification process for sample collection. Verifies samples are labeled with the required attributes and verifies request forms are legible and completed without discrepancies. Reviews blood and component requests for appropriateness of product and quantity of units to provide the correct blood product. Stores all blood products in accordance with requirements to ensure the potency, purity and safety of blood and its components for potential transfusion. Monitors and maintains Blood Bank refrigerators and incubators daily including verifying temperature limits quarterly and verifying alarms are set to alert prior to exceeding tolerance. Examines each unit for abnormal appearance and container integrity including verifying blood bag ports are intact prior to release to the patient care unit. Manages transfusion reactions by ensuring testing and documentation is complete. Responsible for training new blood bank employees, Medical Technologists and Medical Laboratory Technicians. Hematology Performs procedures associated with the enumeration and identification of human blood constituents and the study of the coagulation system. Performs blood and body fluid analyses using complex CBC and Coagulation analyzers and manual counts hemacytometry. Prepares stained slide preparations for the performance of microscopic work. Exercise critical judgment in the identification of human blood components. Microbiology Duties include a broad spectrum of technical duties in all phases of clinical microbiology testing such as preparation of reagents, media, equipment assembly and materials, processing specimens using the equipment, instruments, specialized media and techniques required to prepare them for specific analysis, differentiating organisms for the purpose of positive identification based on morphological appearance, color, staining characteristics, and size differences. Uses microscopes to analyze specific stains or non-stained preparations for reactivity, specimen suitability and/or presence of micro-organisms of importance and performing and interpreting rapid enzyme immunoassay tests. Provides notification and liaison activities with other medical professionals and has the ability to recognize the results that are critical or important in nature and report the findings to the supervisor and/or Chief of Microbiology. Plans and conducts training and instruction of Medical Technology students, Lab Medicine Residents and Infectious Disease Fellows in test and specimen requirements, computer usage and result interpretation. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 3:30 PM - Midnight Rotating Weekends and Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator Stacy Hermann @ V20CompensationTeam@va.gov Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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