Summary

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. Program 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.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification
• Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held
• Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including - Ancillary Testing Coordinator - Education Coordinator - Laboratory Information Manager - Quality Manager - Laboratory Manager - Regional Technical Specialist - National Quality and Compliance Agent - Regional Program Manager - Regional Director - Laboratory Director - or National Quality and Compliance Officer)
• Exception for Non-Certified
• Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of 4 the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)
• Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the Full Performance Level
• Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program
• OR The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination
• 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: Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07
• Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09
• Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR Education
• Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing
• (b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles
• (c)Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance
• (d)Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments
• (e)Ability to read and interpret written instructions
• (f)Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-11 Experience or Education
• Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• 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 science
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a)Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work.(b)Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement
• (c)Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes
• (d)Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation
• (e)Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results
• (f)Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions
• (g)Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education
• Preferred Experience: The candidate should be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or a Medical Technologist (MT) or a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) with ASCP certification and with at least 2 years - full-time experience sending out a high volume of testing from a large clinical laboratory to reference laboratories
• This experience should include Clinical samples as well as Anatomic Pathology samples
• The candidate should have experience entering results into the Electronic Health Record and should be comfortable calling clinicians to obtain additional demographic data or information regarding desired testing
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties for the position include (but are not limited to): Performing all advanced and complex laboratory procedures and testing associated with a Hematology/Coagulation Laboratory - including - but not limited to - assisting providers in Bone Marrow retrieval/slide preparation - Hemoglobin A1C determination - Special Coagulation testing and Flow Cytometry
• Performing testing in the Chemistry Section which includes but is not limited to: Routine Chemistry - Immunoassay - Osmolarity - STAT HIV Exposure needle stick profile - and Urinalysis including automated and manual microscopic examination
• Performing a broad range of lab procedures such as Routine and Special Chemistry - Toxicology - Urinalysis and Clinical Microscopy
• Receiving - accessioning and processing incoming samples per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from all areas of the facility and outlying clinics
• Reviewing all test results - ensuring validity - detecting discrepancies and correlating information with clinical history and previous laboratory results
• Collaborating with healthcare professionals - physicians and pathologists to clarify test results to support clinical decisions
• Conducting instrument validations and test validations - IQCP - specimen assessment - testing and quality control
• Identifying deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction - analyzing and correcting problems using scientific principles - documenting corrective actions - and informing the Section Supervisor of corrective action taken
• Generating incident reports when errors negatively impact patient care
• Documenting quality control to ensure reagent - equipment - humidity and temperatures meet recommended guidelines
• Training new employees - students - residents and clinicians on test performance - procedures - instrument function - quality control - quality management and result reporting
• Tracking packages - checking incomplete lists - inputting results of send-outs samples and sending notification to providers when indicated
• Work Schedule: Compressed Tour: Six 12-hour shifts and One 8-hour shift (Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency needs) Compressed/Flexible: Compressed Tour of Duty: Six 12-hour shifts (7:00am to 7:30pm) and One 8-hour shift (7:30am to 4:00pm rotating with 10:00am to 6:30pm) within a 2-week pay period (Subject to change based on Agency needs)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 01439F - 01440F and 01441F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized