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. 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: Applicants must possess one of the combinations listed below: 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 oreign baccalareate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree progrqams recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described above. This finding may be based on either of following: A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individuals'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 certification examination. Certification: Candidates must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407(d). 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). Grandfathering Provision: All [persons] employed in VHA [in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this] qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration [that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation]. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. If an MT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. MTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. MTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Lead Medical Technologist Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled, to include : Routine testing, quality control, maintenance of instrumentation and troubleshooting; Developing, performing, evaluating, interpreting, correlating and validating the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results.OR Education. Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. AND In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. Knowledge of regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements and statutes governing clinical laboratory operations in order to plan, implement or monitor laboratory programs and services. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to provide technical oversight in order to manage personnel and work assignments in a manner that assures completion of the laboratory workload. Preferred Experience: Previous experience as a generalist in a high volume laboratory. References: VA Handbook 5005/72 Part II Appendix G24, dated 5/12/2014. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Some work is sedentary (4-7 hrs.) with periods of walking (2 hrs.), bending and or kneeling (3 hrs.), lifting and carrying of reagents, equipment and files (15-44 lbs.). There may be some extended periods of standing (6-8 hrs.); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing aid (permitted); emotional stability; ability to hear whispered voice; the use of fingers is required including typing (4-6 hrs.); reaching above shoulder; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination required. ["The Lead Medical Technologist (Lead MT), generalist is assigned to the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service of the Lee County Healthcare Facility located in Cape Coral, Florida. The Lead MT has professional oversight responsibilities as assigned which may include use of large scale automated analytical instrument systems; specific areas of laboratory functions, such as employee competency records, supply functions, quality control review, new method development, or employee/student training; and provide professional and technical advice to other technologists and technicians. The Lead MT will rotate through multiple departments as needed. The Lead MT also works off-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need. Other duties include but are not limited to: Major Duties include: Performing a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing and tasks of the medical laboratory technologist profession. Performing advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles. Evaluating and solving problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis Operating, calibrating, troubleshooting malfunctions, repairs, and performing preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment and documents appropriately. Analyzing and diagnosing deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction and documenting appropriately. Troubleshooting quality control issues. Identifying discrepancies, solving problems, and presenting solutions. Enters Incident reports for Process improvement. Troubleshoots test result discrepancies in assigned area. Evaluates action and correlates data. Communicates with supervisor as needed. Reporting test results timely. Notifies provider of critical results and documents appropriately. Leads team members on proper procedure for handling unexpected results. Communicating with healthcare providers on patient history or condition to evaluate the test result validity as needed to troubleshoot unusual results. Answering inquiries regarding test results, methodology, test specificity, test sensitivity, and specific factors, which influence test results. Consulting with supervisor or pathologists when needed. Recognizing methodology limitations such as linearity, interference, sensitivity, and specificity when evaluating the validity of testing results. Performing test method validation. Evaluating and implementing new techniques and test methods in the laboratory in terms of equipment, method comparison, and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge. Interpreting findings and making recommendations as needed. Writing procedures for new methods. Updating procedures for lab compliance as needed. Monitors policies, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain specialized testing. Reports issues to supervisor. Training and instructing new employees and students. Gives direction and guidance using principles of laboratory testing and service policy and procedures. Participating in proficiency testing, competency testing and Performance Improvement and helps maintain accreditation by participating in quality improvement goals of the laboratory and healthcare system. Maintaining department inventory control to assure adequate supplies and reagents are available for operation. Facilitating processes by working in collaboration with team members to ensure that tasks, priorities, goals and achievements are coordinated with management. Responsible for all aspects of department operation. Analyzing emerging trends and technology and recommends new methods and tests. Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. In addition to the assigned tour of duty, an assigned rotation for On-Call and Disaster Schedule for Essential Personnel will be required to meet minimum staffing requirements and service needs. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:20629F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact ,V8_EDRP_BAYPINES@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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