medical technologist - Providence, United States - Veterans Health Administration

Description

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:

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 inorganic 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 inorganic 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-10 Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 level, which is directly related to the position to be filled
• In addition to this experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles and methodology of the field to perform advanced techniques
• Ability to modify or adapt established methods, procedures or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems
• Knowledge of the application of laboratory regulatory requirements
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training

References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24

Preferred Experience:
Two years experience as Medical Technologist; In/Out patient hospital setting

Physical Requirements:
Depending on what section of the laboratory the employee is assigned, this individual must do mix of sitting, standing and/or walking

• Depending on the workload and patient mix, it could be a lot of any of these three elements
• The employee must have a high degree of dexterity in use and maintenance of many complicated instruments
• They are subject to color-blindness testing and must be recorded as passing for employment. Duties "This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory service at the Providence VA Healthcare System, located in Providence, RI. This position is part-time; 20 hours a week (40 hours per pay period). A Medical Technologist at this level develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, and require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision. The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as bacteriology, chemistry (including endocrinology and toxicology), molecular biology, coagulation, flow cytometry, genetics, hematology, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), mycology, parasitology, serology, urinalysis, and virology. Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures; collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and provide education for laboratory and other healthcare professionals, and others in the medical center setting including the public.

Duties include, but not limited to:

Modifies or adapts new methods or techniques to improve or expand services Develops protocols for performance of tests and evaluation of results.

Ensures that laboratory tests and procedures are consistent with accrediting agencies standards and requirements.

Recognizes methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity and considers these when drawing conclusions about the validity of testing results.

Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems.

Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient.

Provides advisory services to technicians, technologists, and other specialists Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday; 4:00p-12:00a (20 hours/week), rotating weekends & holidays


Compressed/Flexible:
Not Authorized


Telework:
Not Authorized


Virtual:
This is not a virtual position


Functional Statement #:
650-F1639.

Recruitment Incentives:
Authorized


EDRP Authorized:
Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required


Notifications:
This position is in the Excepted Service. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. THIS OPEN & CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT (OCA) ESTABLISHES A STANDING REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, which closes on 8/6/2024.

The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 2/20/2024 with subsequent reviews every other week as additional vacancies occur, or on an as-needed basis, until positions are filled.

Please see the \"What To Expect Next\" area of the announcement which provides additional information on the referral process for this type of announcement.

This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is Part-Time (20 hours/week). This position is covered by a special rate.

Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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