Medical Technologist - Saint Cloud, United States - Veterans Health Administration

Description

Summary

The incumbent serves as a generalist in medical technology with responsibility for performing procedures in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as specimen collection, microbiology, chemistry, coagulation, hematology, immunohematology (blood banking) and urinalysis.

The generalist medical technologist rotates with other generalists on a regular basis through the above-mentioned areas.
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

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:(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 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

Grade Determinations:
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

• 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
• All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package
• We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications
• Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification
• It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package

References:
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 the S-9

Physical Requirements:
You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position

• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

"Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable.
Prepare specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained.

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 quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
Calibrates, standardizes, adjust and maintains instruments.
Verifies 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 data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures.
Correlates quantitative data with patient data to verify results.
Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results.
Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly.

Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.

Performs venipuncture as well as capillary for specimen collection.

Instructs, assists and advises medical technicians, residents, healthcare system staff, patients and students as necessary regarding questions including, but not limited to, patient testing, specimen collection, equipment, ordering requirements.

Adheres to all facility, local, state and federal safety requirements.
Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.
Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career- Medical Technologist:

Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday 10:30am-7:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):

Not Authorized Pay:
Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Parental Leave:

After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy:

After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement:
Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework:
Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #:
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized ???

Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required"