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: (1) 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 (2) 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, (3) 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. Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) 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. MAY 12, 2014 VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 II-G24-3 Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-7 (Entry Level) 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. 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: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 2. 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. 3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. 4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. 5. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. 6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. 7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. 8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Preferred Experience: Preferred Microbiology and Laboratory experience of at least a year. References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09. Physical Requirements: The incumbent may be required to stand, bend, stoop, lift and kneel for long periods of time. They must also be able to lift moderately heavy objects, climb ladders and stairs, and maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations. Working in a clinical laboratory also involves regular and recurring risks to infectious substances and irritant reagents. Incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing and take safety precautions. ["Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: The incumbent serves as a Microbiology Specialist Technologist and a Generalist Medical Technologist in VA MT Healthcare, Ft. Harrison site responsible for coverage of two of the clinical disciplines of Hematology, Chemistry, Urinalysis, Blood Gases, Coagulation, and HgbA1c. Required to cover shifts as assigned on our 24-hour, 7 days per week service; including microbiology department weekend and holiday coverage. Incumbent is a knowledgeable clinical medical laboratory microbiologist with a specialized awareness of the pathognomonic and pathogenesis of microbiologic disease states, what organisms cause certain diseases, in what manner, and how to recover or discover the presence or absence of isolates through a wide variety of testing methodology, not only routine culturing. As part of this knowledge base the incumbent will be able to perform a wide range of antibiotic testing and accurately interpret the findings in conjunction with all current national standards. Incumbent uses only approved Biohazard level II or, as needed, augmented level III safety protocols in the performance of tasks and adheres to all other general lab and station safety practices. This includes proper handling and disposing of sharps, blood, body fluid, hazardous biologic material, and chemicals. Incumbent is responsible to quickly notify appropriate management where violations of safe practices are observed and whenever a suspect select agent of biologic terrorism is recovered. Incumbent demonstrates continuing competency with up-to-date knowledge via yearly external proficiency survey testing, quizzes and direct observation checks that show ongoing ability to perform testing on multiple medical microbiology samples using only validated and verified methods approved to the scope of practice for the section. Incumbent is knowledgeable of all technical and administrative procedures and policies of the section, as well as those applicable from the General Lab, Ft. Harrison station and the VA system. Incumbent makes a corrective action report for every event in the section where there is a failure of material, equipment, procedure or policy that hampers the delivery of accurate results to patient file. Incumbent tests all new lots of media, reagents, panels, chemicals, control organisms and any material required for services offered with appropriate control material prior to use in patient testing and interpretation. Incumbent performs and documents all instrument checks daily as required as well as any weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual checks and maintenance as required. Incumbent performs and documents all instrument checks daily as required as well as any weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual checks and maintenance as required. The incumbent can appropriately preserve, package and forward samples sent to reference lab for testing in a timely manner. This includes special infectious disease packaging and form completion requirements. Incumbent reviews incomplete test status reports daily and resolves problems where testing was not completed in the specified time frame. Incumbent attends all assigned meetings and continuing education as required. The work involves accurate and timely completion of testing to provide relevant clinical information to physicians crucial to patient care. Incumbent judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements. These duties require the broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision. Incumbent performs and documents all instrument checks daily as required as well as any weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual checks and maintenance as required. The incumbent can appropriately preserve, package and forward samples sent to reference lab for testing in a timely manner. This includes special infectious disease packaging and form completion requirements. The work involves accurate and timely completion of testing to provide relevant clinical information to physicians crucial to patient care. Incumbent judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements. These duties require the broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with minimal technical supervision. Work Schedule: Variable Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50573,50980A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Therese.Collette@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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