Medical Technologist (Regional Informatics Manager) - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary The incumbent serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization advising on various aspects of information management. The Regional Technical Specialist/Manager (Clinical Informatics Technology) develops new policies and procedures regarding LIS, conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area and creates and applies re-engineering and continuous improvement. Responsibilities Duties include, but are not limited to: Develops guidelines for VISN 22 laboratory information managers. Assesses clinical informatics effectiveness. Establishes and maintains quality assurance programs related to information technology. Serves as an authority on laboratory informatics technology platforms. Serves as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials. Keeps abreast of current research, clinical methods, and technical advances in the field. Develops and integrates new techniques, and procedures into laboratory programs. Provides direction and guidance to staff. Develops and manages laboratory interfaces and Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange (LEDI) Maintains active recruitment and personnel selection functions. Interprets and provides technical guidance on agency policies and procedures. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent provides authority over the information technology program for VISN22 directly accountable to VISN22, Director of Operations, PALMS and the VISN22, Chief, PALMS. The incumbent works independently. The incumbent provides first line supervision to the laboratory information managers and clinical applications coordinators located at each facility within VISN22. The incumbent is responsible for consulting with the PALMS facility Medical Director(s) and Laboratory Manager(s); informing him/her of major problems and decisions in the area of clinical informatics. The incumbent receives some assignments of a general nature from the VISN22, Chief, PALMS Medical Director. Subsequent findings and recommendations are not reviewed for accuracy and conformance with policy but are used by the chief as the basis for his/her subsequent decision-making. Much of the incumbent's responsibilities are self-initiated, such as identifying and correcting problems, and identifying ways of improving the efficiency of the service. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Available (Reg Telework 6+ Days/PP) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: a. 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.) b. 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. c. 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. d. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must also be met: GS-13 Medical Technologist - Regional Manager Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12), which is directly related to the position to be filled. -AND- In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles and methodology of medical technology programs and operations sufficient to assess program effectiveness in order to provide authoritative guidance for operations, personnel, and management. b. Knowledge of accrediting and regulatory agency requirements regarding consolidated oversight of clinical laboratories, and ability to delineate and interpret accreditation standards. c. Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization. d. Ability to work collaboratively with other disciplines, upper management, VISN level staff and/or VHA Central Office. e. Ability to plan and execute short and long range programs. f. Skill in administrative management (e.g., budgeting, contracting, procurement, and property management). g. Ability to provide advisory, planning, and surveillance services to clinicians, laboratory directors and supervisors on specific functions, programs or problems that are particularly difficult, widespread or persistent. h. Ability to solve complex problems involving unique or controversial aspects of medical technology or laboratory management, new or unconventional methods, program changes, or conflicts between scientific/technological requirements, regulatory or program requirements (e.g., cost effectiveness). References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G24 - Medical Technologist Qualification Standard, GS-644, Veterans Health Administration. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require moment between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.