Medical Technologist - Full-time

Summary

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.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency: MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part
• 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
• 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: Medical Technologist GS-7 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignments: Employees at this level serve in an entry level MT career development position practicing under close supervision of an MT at or above the full performance level
• Medical Technologist GS-9 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G-24 Dated May 12, 2014
• 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: Standing or stooping for long periods of time
• Mild physical labor to complete the tasks at hand
• Exposure to blood, chemicals, and other bodily fluids
• Other physical demands that coincide with the duties of a laboratory professional
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

"- Incumbent performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques.
Duties require competency in at least three of the areas of Blood Bank, Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Blood Gases and Urine Drug screens.
- Testing duties in all disciplines require the technologist to perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results.
In all areas, technologist prepares reagents, assembles equipment and verifies correct instrument operation.
Maintains validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing.
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 results.
- The work involves accurate and timely completion of testing to provide relevant clinical information to physicians crucial to patient care.
The work involves various duties concerned with test performance, identification and correction of errors, evaluation/interpretation of test results, correlation of data and validation/verification of results.
The incumbent considers such factors as the complex network of steps and variables and discrimination required by some tests; conditions which produce erroneous results, specimen properties, physical conditions and time factors critical to the test; instrument malfunction and test procedure variations; and physiologic conditions that affect test results.
- Incumbent skillfully collects venous and arterial blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements.
Incumbent judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements.
Processes specimens and selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of type of specimens, patient information and resources available in the laboratory.
Controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to insure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained.
- Technologist shows mastery of the VA Laboratory computer software package (VISTA) as job assignments require.
Demonstrates a working mastery of the functions of the CPRS system and Microsoft Internet, Word and E-mail functions.
- Incumbent attentively accessions and labels samples and subsamples, records data accurately in logs and worksheets with extreme attention to ID verification and accurate manual recording.
- Technologist is responsible for recognition of all critical value results and for the effective and immediate communication of those results to the patient's provider following all required steps and documentation.
- Tech is responsible for mastering the preventive maintenance requirements for a large number of instruments and testing systems.
Tech performs these duties as assigned by printed schedule.
- Technologist is responsible for resolving procedural, reagent and equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions and previous experience.
- Technologist's practices require thorough understanding and adherence to all safety requirements as per regulatory laws such as used in phlebotomy, proper handling of blood and body fluids, hazardous medical waste, safe chemical handling practices, etc.
- Technologist is able to serve the needs of other VA Montana Healthcare staff seeking advice on the proper ordering of tests, technical information about tests offered and interpretation of test results.
- Provides effective and professional training to new staff members on theoretical and practical aspects of procedures in use providing demonstration of laboratory practices.
Consults with newer staff regarding abnormal or unusual results and advises on course of action.
- Technologist maintains a professional currency through formal education and professional training and networking.
Insures the adequacy of the scientific knowledge applied in the performance of required tests.
- Annually attends/completes the required hours of mandatory training required by VA Montana.
Work Schedule: Variable Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-50573-0, 436-50980-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Michael Warner, Michael.warner3@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"