Jobs for People with MS: National MS Society

Summary The position is located in the Core Laboratory of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. The Medical Technician is responsible for performing a wide range of emergency, routine, complex, and specialized test procedures in Clinical Chemistry, Coagulation, Hematology, Blood Bank, Microbiology and Urinalysis with minimal on-site supervision. These procedures range from basic screening tests to DNA amplification. Responsibilities Duties for the Medical Technician may include but are not limited to the following: Interprets and makes decisions related to running quality control specimens on all assays in the work area. Utilizes knowledge of on-line quality control rules to make decisions related to the ongoing performance of clinical assays. Runs and reports proficiency samples from organizations such as the College of American Pathologists. Trouble-shoots, prepares reagents, maintains instrumentation and materials and verifies correct instrumentation functions in accordance with departmental guidelines. Processes specimens using the equipment, instruments and techniques required to prepare them for specific analysis; controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to insure that the physiologic integrity of the specimen is maintained. Recognizes critical values and critical tests and reports these values promptly to the requesting clinician. Provides informed notification and liaison activities with clinicians and other customers. Monitors turnaround time to ensure timely completion of STAT testing. Evaluates the validity of the data in relation to the test system and assay procedures used. Identifies unusual results or discrepancies/conditions that cause erroneous results (e.g. instrument malfunctions, improper test conditions, specimen appropriateness and viability). Plans and conducts the training and instruction of New Employees, Medical Laboratory students, Medical Students and Residents in all aspects of the work. Assists with data collection for the implementation of new equipment or reagent lot cross-over's. Investigates and documents processing, labeling, collection and other specimen errors using problem report forms. Maintains the inventory of supplies. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Midnight - 0830 with rotating weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD07759A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/31/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (a) technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic, and blood banking; especially, high volume Phlebotomy) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, i.e. biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR, Education. Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. Certification.(1) 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. American Association of Bio analysts. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Conscientiousness Flexibility Technical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Data entry includes patient information, test orders, and other critical data in a computer that may result in physical problems from the effects of repetitive motion and eyestrain. The incumbent must have normal color vision correctable to 20/20. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education MPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.