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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Medical Technologist (Generalist) Near Indianapolis, IN

Qualifications:

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 Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, VA Handbook 5005.
• 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 education: See information located in education section of announcement.
• Certification: Candidates must have either (1) or (2): (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 (GS-9), 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).

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.

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 or Education.
  • None beyond the basic requirements.

• GS 9 (Full Performance Level)
  • Experience. Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7 Entry Level), which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR,
  • Education:Possess a Master's Degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field.
• GS 9 (Full Performance Level) KSA In addition to the GS 9 Education and/or Experience requirements for this grade, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 7 to GS 9.

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.

Responsibilities:

Duties below are for both GS7 and GS9 GS7 Duties and tasks include but are not limited to the following under the supervision of a Full Performance Level Medical Technologist or higher:GS9 Duties and tasks include but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluates the suitability of each specimen for analysis, requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimen for analysis according to established procedures. Follows established procedure for handling of mislabeled, unlabeled, or unsuitable specimens.
• Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrective action.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports. Performs initial quality control of all incoming reagents and supplies as required.
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement, providing sound independent work.
• Performs initial testing on all reagents received in chemistry, 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 supervisor or laboratory director to review/approve before reagents or supplies are put into use.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments. This includes verifying correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Evaluates the validity of the data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures.
• Correlates quantitative data with patient data (e.g., history, medications) as necessary to verify results.
• Performs additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly and follows the proper laboratory and medical center policies.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of results recorded into the computer system.
• Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of laboratory equipment and maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs instrumentation and demonstrates proper documentation of corrective action.
• Uses independent technical judgement to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
• Interprets and applies complex written instructions.
• Performs checks to maintain compliance with regulatory bodies such as AABB, FDA, The Joint Commission (TJC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) such as temperature checks, inventory control, blood utilization tracking, instrument maintenance and testing.
• Communicates, consults, and interacts with other members of the healthcare team.
• Maintains accountability for inventory and ordering of all supplies, including blood products and reagents for all shifts and inventory of expendable supplies.
• Follows all safety and infectious disease policies while conducting duties of the position.
• Performs routine and Stat laboratory testing within the established time limits.
• Continuously completes medical center and laboratory training and education as required and within the established deadlines.
• Telephones critical or urgent test results to the clinician or provider with appropriate documentation.
• Involved in statistical data collection and/or documentation for records, reports, Quality Assurance monitors, and quality control. Maintains a detailed, accurate record in an organized fashion, tracks activities, and processes paperwork accurately and promptly.
• Able to organize and prioritize work during heavy workload situations to expedite patient results. Prioritizes work between non-specimen activity and patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 12:30 pm to 9:00 pm with rotating weekends and holidays working 4:00pm - 12 midnight
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 91617-A and 91618-A
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary