As a Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) in Pathology & Laboratory Department you will be responsible for coverage of all clinical disciplines of Hematology, Chemistry, Urinalysis, Blood Gases, Coagulation, Blood Bank and HgbA1c. In addition to these broad medical technologist duties, the incumbent is also responsible for the technical oversight of the entire Chemistry Department, acting as an expert Chemistry department technical advisor for all other technical staff. 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. 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. Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT; OR 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). 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). Grade Determinations: GS-11 (Technical Specialist): 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. 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal requirements and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing Advanced knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired technologists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of the laboratory procedures Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations Advanced knowledge of a particular discipline or function with wide latitude for exercising sound independent judgment. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G24 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. ["This is an open continuous announcement until July 29, 2022. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Medical Technologist works throughout the lab as a Technical Specialist and is required to cover shifts as assigned on 24-hour, 7 day per week service; weekend, holiday, and night shifts are covered as sole technologist on-site. Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques Perform, evaluate, interpret, correlate, and validate the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results Prepare reagents, assemble equipment, and verify correct instrument operation Maintain validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing Evaluate the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures Correlate and integrate information and perform additional testing to confirm abnormal results Consider such factors as the complex network of steps and variables and discrimination required by some tests; conditions which produce erroneous results, specimen properties, physical conditions, and time factors critical to the test; instrument malfunction and test procedure variations; and physiologic conditions that affect test results Collect venous and arterial blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements Judge the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements Process specimens and select appropriate procedures based on knowledge of type of specimens, patient information and resources available in the laboratory Control physical conditions and respond to time factors to ensure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained Accession and label samples and subsamples, record data accurately in logs and worksheets with extreme attention to ID verification and accurate manual recording Responsible for recognition of all critical value results and for the effective and immediate communication of those results to the patient's provider following all required steps and documentation Resolve procedural, reagent and equipment problems according to written procedures, verbal instructions and previous experience Provide effective and professional training to new staff members on theoretical and practical aspects of procedures in use providing demonstration of laboratory practices Consult with newer staff regarding abnormal or unusual results and advise on course of action Monitor the Chemistry section quality control systems Ensure timely and thorough evaluation of data, ensure discrepancies are identified and attended by troubleshooting instrument performance and/or QC material performance Propose solutions to remedy any deficiency discovered by QC tracking or proficiency testing results Complete monthly Chemistry section quality control reports Create/update procedure manuals in the Chemistry department assuring continuous review of changing accreditation standards Participates in on-site inspection activities (Chemistry) Attends on-site and off-site instrument training schools (completing the expert level course, if offered) Evaluate data and documentation for accreditation requirement adequacy Responsible for all recurring mandatory method comparison testing; calibration verification and documentation are complete for any test in the department performed by more than one instrument Complete all inventory duties and supply ordering to assure continued availability of all tests in the Chemistry menu making sure to allow for reagent or calibrator problems that may develop Work Schedule: Rotating shifts to include day shift, evening shift, and possible graveyard shifts. Includes weekends and holidays.\nCompressed/Flexible: May be available for highly qualified applicant\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) / 53423-O\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]