VISN 22 Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PALMS) has two positions for Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) at VA Loma Linda Health Care System, one position located in Rapid Response area covering Chemistry and one position located in Microbiology. The incumbents serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education and/or Experience Combination: 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 (laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.), AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program (Note: 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. 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. 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. 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 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 Certification: Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASC Preferred Experience/Qualifications: Experience in general chemistry, immunochemistry, and manual chemistry. Experience with quality assurance and control programs, accreditation requirements and inspections, and employee/student training. Experience in bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, serology, and molecular testing. Experience with quality assurance and control programs (including IQCP), accreditation requirements and inspections, validations/implementations of new assays/instruments, and employee/student training. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements. GS-11 Technical Specialist Experience or Education: Applicants must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the full performance level (GS-9), which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related field. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Advanced knowledge and understanding of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, medicolegal requirements and pertinent statistics sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests. Skill to apply new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing. Advanced knowledge of instructional techniques to instruct newly hired technologists and clinical pathology residents in proper performance of tests and applications of the laboratory procedures. Ability to develop procedures for new tests and modify existing procedures and methods in order to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. Advanced knowledge of a particular discipline or function with wide latitude for exercising sound independent judgment. Assignment. The incumbent serves as an expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging tests requiring special knowledge. Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular/deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/genetic testing, bone marrow examination, and flow cytometry. Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses. Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Applies policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain the specialized testing. The technical specialist often works independently and is given freedom of action under the general guidance of a pathologist or other laboratory practitioner. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G24 - Medical Technologist Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The work of this position requires regular and recurrent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending. Occasionally lifts heavy containers of supplies or equipment. ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Technologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf The City of Loma Linda is a scenic community located within eyesight of the towering peaks of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Loma Linda is located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County. While it is near the highly developed job market of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, it does provide a small town setting for your home, work or recreation. Adjacent to California's Interstate 10 freeway, Loma Linda is freeway close to beaches, mountains and desert resorts. At VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, our health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 22, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 08, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals and will be referred until the announcement closes on September 22, 2024. Duties include but not limited to: Serves as an expert providing authoritative advise and consultation for markedly difficult, complex, unique and/or emerging test requiring special knowledge. Advises all organizational levels on various aspects of specialized testing, including appropriateness that takes into consideration clinical context. Advises on alternate testing to overcome ambiguities in the clinical diagnoses. Analyzes emerging trends and technology and adopts appropriate methods and testing. Applies policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing and accrediting requirements to establish, monitor and maintain the specialized testing. Conducts studies and recommends changes to correct deficiencies and improve the specialty area. Recommends new/replacement instrumentation. Designs work flow to accomplish objective in the clinical specialty area. Identifies training needs appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed. Identifies, defines, and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of data or unique or controversial aspects of the testing where no direct precedent exists. Maintains process control in a specialty area through a multifaceted quality assurance program. Performs other related duties as assigned. Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA policy. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 06:30AM -3:00PM or 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, rotating weekends, holidays, and potential on-call Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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