Medical Technician

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Advanced Medical Technician to perform advanced operations, train staff, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments across microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and other disciplines.

Candidates must meet certification requirements for MLT and a GS-07 level; US citizenship required; education and licensure requirements apply per VA standards.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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 ASCP, AMT, or AAB.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced operation, training, and troubleshooting of laboratory instruments.
• Resolve and troubleshoot problems across multiple laboratory disciplines (microbiology, chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, parasitology, serology, urinalysis).
• Duties include ensuring compliance with accreditation and safety requirements and coordinating with supervisory staff.

Job description

Advanced Medical Technicians are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks in a variety of laboratory disciplines, such as microbiology, chemistry, coagulation, hematology, immunohematology (blood bank), parasitology, serology, urinalysis, and ancillary testing. The duties consist of advanced operation, training, and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving and problems. 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: 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.
• Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-07
  • Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below. Assignment-specific KSAs are designated with an asterisk (*) and are only required if that task is required of the position, as indicated in part (c) below
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs i. - iv. and the advanced KSA as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties
    • Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
    • Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
    • Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.
    • Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
    • Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues, interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development.
    • Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements.
    • Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
    • Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory, including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results.

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).

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.