CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST (LABORATORY INFORMATION MANAGER)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Loma Linda (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States seeks a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to develop and recommend policies for LIS installation and integration with the HIS. The role provides expert LIS consultation for the clinical lab and advises all levels on LIS capabilities.

Applicants must meet basic requirements, including U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and a bachelor’s degree or higher, with accepted MLS/MT certifications or equivalent by ASCP/AMT.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Laboratory Information System (LIS) concepts and capabilities.
• Ability to advise on LIS use with hospital information systems (HIS).
• Experience in developing policies and procedures for clinical IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Develops and recommends new policies and procedures for LIS installation and use with the HIS.
• Provides authoritative advice and consultation on LIS applicability to the clinical laboratory.
• Advises all organizational levels on LIS functions and capabilities.

Skills

LIS knowledge

Policy development

Healthcare IT consultation

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

This Clinical Laboratory Scientist develops and recommends new policies and procedures regarding installation and use of the laboratory information system (LIS) in conjunction with the overall hospital information system (HIS). This individual provides authoritative advice and consultation on the information system as it applies to the clinical laboratory. The CLS advises all organizational levels on functions and capabilities of the LIS.

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

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).
• 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 Candidates

(a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G24 EFFECTIVE DATE: December 3, 2024 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.

(b) 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).

(c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL.

(d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained.

(e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.

Failure to Obtain Certification:

In all cases, CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff, in collaboration with the supervisor, will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification, including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employment.

Loss of Credential:

If an employee fails to maintain the required certification, management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation. This may also result in separation from employment.

If a CLS currently has, or ever had, their CLS certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status, HR Office staff must appoint them according to the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16.

NOTE:

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). Employees in VHA in this occupation under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements of this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• If an assignment above the FPL requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be promoted.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain certification that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Laboratory Information Manager), GS-12.

• Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-11) grade level.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of concepts, principles, and methodology of clinical laboratory technology in relation to laboratory information systems.
  • Knowledge of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization.
  • Knowledge of laboratory computer systems sufficient to implement various laboratory associated packages and sustain operation of the laboratory system.
  • Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements for laboratory functions.
  • Ability to adapt, implement and integrate the use of software to specific laboratory applications and processes, including the use of office automation software.
  • Ability to independently plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member, and effectively complete assignments.

Reference:

https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.