The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Medical Technologist (Hematology/Blood Bank). The Medical Technologist (Hematology/Blood Bank) will function within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. 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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Technologists 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. Certification: Must possess the appropriate certification as a Medical Technologist (MT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) given 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) or otherwise meet the requirements for certification and this requirement can be met within one year. (Applicants that are not certified must fully meet one of the three education/experience combinations and can only be pending certification. Individuals pending certification can only be appointed temporarily for one year to meet the requirement and the appointment will not be extended.) OR, 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). Grade Requirements: Creditable Experience. Knowledge of Current Professional Laboratory Practice. For positions at or above the full performance level, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities as a MT and may be paid or non-paid employment. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled. Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a MT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, a MT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. Graduate Education. Graduate education and graduate degrees may be substituted as specified at each grade level. Education must have been from an accredited college or university in a field related to MT (e.g., biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, immunohematology, biological science, physiology, allied health education, health systems administration, infection control and preventive medicine), which was accredited at the time the candidate completed the program. Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. 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. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing, bending over microscopes, reaching for supplies or materials, and lifting moderately heavy items such as centrifuges and record boxes (or occasionally lifting heavier items such as reagents packs). The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as dexterity (to perform intricate collection or analysis procedures) and color vision. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24 May 12, 2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. ["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 the laboratory disciplines of hematology, coagulation and immunohematology (blood banking). The incumbent will 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. Some duties include, but are not limited to; Pre-analytical evaluation of samples Determines the suitability of samples for the appropriate test. Checks sample integrity and suitability. Checks and properly document for hemolysis, icteric, or lipemic samples when applicable. Determines if the sample is QNS, and determine whether the sample meets the time, temperature, or other requirements for testing. Checks for proper labeling requirements on the original sample and on sample aliquots or dilutions made from the original sample. Distributes samples to the appropriate area for testing. Follows proper procedures for preparing samples, where appropriate, that are sent for outside testing. Testing Maintains an adequate supply inventory necessary for performance of duties in their assigned unit to prevent unjustified emergency requests and needless waste of materials. Promptly notifies the supervisor/senior technologist before the level of reagents, controls, calibrators, and supplies reach predetermined levels of depletion. Ensures that all reagents are stored properly. Ensures that proper reagents are used for the appropriate testing and will properly label all reagents, controls, and calibrators. Maintains, operates, troubleshoots, and repairs analytical instruments used for testing, including basic interface issues. Know calibrations and standards, the Analytical Measured Range (AMR), and the Clinically Reportable Range (CRR). Performs testing using standard operating procedures and complete the testing within an established time frame. Keeps the supervisor/senior technologist informed of any discrepancies or problems noted and any corrective action taken. Follows proper procedures for performing manual testing and QC. Responsible for maintaining all Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service QA and QC documentation. Interprets results before they are reported and correlate them with the patient's condition. Evaluates results for compliance and acceptability within established ranges. Recognizes abnormal and critical results. Reports all critical results in a timely manner to the appropriate provider and provide proper documentation. Knows sample storage requirements. Knows procedures for proper disposal of samples and reagents. Documents and reports all deviations to the supervisor/senior technologist. Other Duties Compliant with all accreditation agencies in their department (CAP, FDA, AABB, JC, and IG). Completes CAP Surveys and be familiar with CAP checklists. Keeps current in all mandatory education requirements. Successfully completes yearly competencies and all relevant continuing education requirements. Reviews all laboratory procedures and policies that pertain to their work. Participates in committees and assist in gathering information for committees. Involved in laboratory process improvement projects. Properly trains MLT students and new employees following established procedures and policies. Will be required to act as a certified drug screen collector. At times, may serve as the lead technologist on weekends or holidays if a senior technologist is not on duty. The technologist performs all other related duties as assigned. Phlebotomy As needed, performs phlebotomy. May perform difficult and complex sample collection for a full range of tests, where some aspects are not covered in detail in instructions or guidelines. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91511-O; 92707-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
