Lead Medical Technologist at Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The incumbent serves as a Lead Medical Technologist (MT) with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of Hematology, Coagulation, Chemistry, Immunochemistry, Blood Bank, and Urinalysis. The Lead MT is responsible for the coordination of the section to include technical, administrative, and operational needs. The Lead MT rotates with other generalists on as needed basis through the above-mentioned areas.

Qualifications

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:

• 1
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g
• 2
• Education and/or Experience Combination: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 or 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
• 3
• 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
• OR (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
• 4
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• 5
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C
• § 7403(f)
• GRADE DETERMINATION Lead Medical Technologist GS-11 (a) 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
• Applicant should have experience facilitating team or unit 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 operation in their area of specialty including preparation and maintenance of records and reports, analysis of testing methodologies, training, instrumentation and compliance
• Acts as a liaison to other departments of the medical center for the appropriate laboratory specialty, OR, (b) Education
• Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II Appendix G24, Medical Technologist Qualification Standard dated May 12, 2014
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, moderate lifting of instruments and materials up to 50 pounds, walking moderate distances, mental alertness, and ability to work under pressure due to meeting established timetables for documentation, hardware/software failures and resolutions
• Some assignments require sitting at a computer workstation for moderate periods of time.

Duties

"The duties and responsibilities of the Clinical Testing Unit Lead Technologist include, but are not limited, to the following: Lead Tech Responsibilities for Clinical Testing Unit: (75%) The Lead Medical Technologist has advanced knowledge of testing techniques and advanced problem-solving capabilities and acts as a resource for GS-4-7 Medical Technicians and GS-7-10 Medical Technologists.
Incumbent has in-depth knowledge of all Hematology, Coagulation, Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Immunochemistry, Blood Bank and Urinalysis policies and procedures including specimen collection and processing.
The Lead MT has the ability to perform all quality control procedures, generate reports, review and interpret test results and review the work of all technologists on all shifts who perform testing in all areas of the Clinical Testing Unit.
The Lead MT oversees the day-to-day bench assignments and daily work activities, so that staff is utilized in an efficient manner to meet workload needs within the Clinical Testing Unit.
The Lead MT assists in coordinating inter-lab proficiency and competency assessments.
Assists in assigning Proficiency Testing surveys to staff and reviews surveys for completeness.
The Lead MT will assist the Supervisor in training and proper performance of tests performed by medical technologists within CTU.
Incumbent periodically reviews all procedures in the department and makes recommendations for changes or modifications to the CTU supervisor.
Also, works with the CTU Supervisor to develop and implement protocols for performance of new tests in the section.
Incumbent assists in the evaluation of new methodologies and instrumentation in the section making recommendations to Supervisor.
Bench responsibilities (25%) Follows prescribed procedures, performs any tests in the unit to which he/she is temporarily or permanently assigned; collects (by venipuncture) and prepares human samples for analysis; responds to time factor to insure that the physiologic state of specimens is maintained; evaluates requested procedures to determine the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requests new specimen if determined to be unusable; prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the properties is maintained; prepares reagents and primary reference material; selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of non-routine and specialized test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols.
Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections; recognizes and defines testing problems and evaluates methods for solution; evaluates, guides, or implements possible alternative approaches to standard methods; utilizes advanced knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter extending beyond the duties of test performance; monitors the quality control system including record keeping systems and measures to assure the accuracy and validity of test results and trouble shoots instruments; ensures timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensures discrepancies are identified and attended; obtains data and complies with the practices, procedures and techniques described in the quality assurance plan; adheres to quality control measures, suggests new or revised methods of control and of collecting and evaluating quality control data.
Plays a role in establishing and developing the testing and examination procedures carried out in the laboratory; solves testing problems, suggests solutions to testing problems, and performs newer/more complex tests and examinations; participates in process improvement, data driven decision making, and team driven change to continuously improve operations; is responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system; plans and carries out the successive steps of testing procedures in multiple areas/Sections, and independently handles problems and deviations in the work assignment in accordance with established protocols, previous training, or accepted laboratory practices.
Work Schedule: 0700-1530 M-F with rotating weekends/holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: FS# 91928-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized"