Medical Technologist

Portland, Oregon, Oregon, 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. 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. ) English Language Proficiency. MTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, 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). (3) 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. (4) 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. Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Grade Determinations: GS-7 (Entry Level) (a) Experience.

None beyond the basic requirements. (b) 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) (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 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: 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: Seeking experienced Medical Technologist in Hematology, Coagulation, and Urinalysis. Seeking applicant with multi-tasking skills and an interest in cross-training. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/72 PART II APPENDIX G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-9. [“The Medical Technologist (MT)is assigned to Hematology section within the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Portland Healthcare System. Seeking experienced Medical Technologist in the following areas: hematology, coagulation and urinalysis. GS 7 applicants typically are new graduates with no MT experience.

GS 9 applicants have at minimum of 1 year experience as a MT. The Medical Technologist develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results ensuring all laboratory regulatory requirements are met. Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques, following practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace. These require a broad exercise of independent judgment and responsibility, including organizing and setting priorities with minimal technical supervision. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained. Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of a broad range of laboratory test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections with immediate or general supervision. . Incumbent prepares stained slide preparations for the performance of microscopic work.

Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products. Maintains proper records for quality control reports. The incumbent performs procedures associated with the enumeration and identification of human blood, urine & body fluid constituents and the study of the coagulation system. He/she performs blood and body fluid analyses using complex automated test systems and manual methods. He/she maintains, calibrates, troubleshoots, diagnose and repairs issues with instrumentation used in the section. The incumbent provides informed notification and liaison activities with other medical professionals. He/she has the ability to recognize results that are critical or important in nature and report the findings to the supervisor and/or Medical Director of Hematology. Participant in training of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Scientists. Work Schedule: M-F 8AM-4:30PM, with rotating weekends and holidays. On-call required for liver transplant with a minimum of 4 shifts per month.

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 EDRP Authorized: Contact, V20CompensationTeam@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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