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

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• Education
• Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification
• Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations
• (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP - Board of Certification
• OR ii ASCP - Board of Registry
• (b) American Medical Technologists
• OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts
• Exception
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend
• Foreign Education
• Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• English Language Proficiency
• MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations Medical Laboratory Technician - GS-05
• (a) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• None
• (c) Assignment
• This is an entry-level developmental MLT position
• MLTs will typically receive guidance from experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• MLTs at this level perform testing in one or more of the following areas: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing - phlebotomy - hematology - immunohematology - clinical chemistry - immunology - toxicology - urinalysis - referral laboratory - microbiology and specimen processing
• MLTs recognize data with life-threatening (critical) implications and understand the importance of immediately bringing the data to the attention of the patient's physician and/or nursing staff
• Medical Laboratory Technician - GS-06
• (a) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level
• (b) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i Knowledge of MLT principles - practices - concepts and theories for sound independent work
• ii Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems
• iii Ability to maintain - troubleshoot and repair instrumentation
• iv Ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments.v Ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results
• vi Ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions
• vii Ability to consult with other members of the health care team - patients and external customers
• (c) Assignment
• At the full performance level - MLTs use independent judgment to perform the full range of duties in the laboratory - from sample collection to evaluating and communicating test results
• MLTs perform day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care
• This includes providing pre-analytic instructions to patients - VA staff and other external entities related to collection and processing of laboratory specimens
• MLTs use processing techniques such as centrifugation - aliquoting - storage and packaging (considering stability factors) - and they accurately label and sort patient specimens
• MLTs operate and maintain all instrumentation in assigned areas to deliver precise - timely and accurate laboratory results when analyzing body fluids such as blood - urine and tissue samples
• MLTs at this level analyze laboratory findings and issue necessary reports
• The results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures are discussed with supervisors - pathologists and other medical professionals as needed
• 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include - but are not limited to: - Collects blood specimens from inpatients - outpatients - and emergency room patients using vacutainer - syringe - butterfly - or capillary techniques
• - Ensures proper patient identification using at least two identifiers before specimen collection
• - Performs venipuncture with minimal patient bruising - failures - or required re-sticks
• - Obtains urine - stool - and other biological specimens following standard protocols
• - Adapts collection methods based on patient age - condition - or special needs (e.g. - pediatric or geriatric patients)
• - Receives and sorts specimens from phlebotomy rooms - clinics - and outpatient facilities
• - Accessions specimens into VISTA or other lab systems - generating accurate labels
• - Prepares specimens for testing via centrifugation - decanting - or aliquoting as required
• - Verifies specimen suitability (e.g. - volume - condition) and requests redraws if inadequate
• - Maintains specimen integrity by storing at appropriate temperatures (e.g. - refrigerated - frozen)
• - Uses technical judgment to interpret laboratory results
• - Able to consult with other members of the health care team - patients and external customers
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 6:00am - 2:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized