The incumbent performs the full range of Send Out procedures for all areas of the clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory including specimen accessioning, processing, distribution, preparing shipping manifests, packaging samples for transportation, and reporting results in the Electronic Health Record. The incumbent implements and follows safety and infection control requirements concerning specimen processing and shipping and complies with all relevant regulatory bodies. 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. English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education and/or Experience Combination -You must possess 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 (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.); AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. 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. OR You must possess 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 have 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. OR You must possess 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 have 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. Foreign Graduates. 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 in paragraph 2b(2) or (3) 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. 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). Certification - You must possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-9 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR, (b) Education. Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation.. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate would have a MT/MLS(ASCP) with at least 2 years¿ full-time experience sending out a high volume of testing from a large clinical laboratory to reference laboratories. This experience should include Anatomic Pathology samples as well as Clinical samples. The candidate should have experience entering results into the Electronic Health Record and should be comfortable calling clinicians to obtain additional demographic data or information regarding desired testing. 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-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-9. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see "Duties" section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Testing for Colorblindness is required. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. ["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 New Orleans Chamber of Commerce - New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, LA - Performs a broad range of laboratory procedures including all testing, reporting, documentation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and other tasks of the medical laboratory technology occupation. - Receives, accessions, and processes incoming samples per SOP from all areas of the hospital and outlying clinics. - Follows reference laboratory guidelines for transporting and submitting Send-out specimens to reference laboratories, as needed. - Assesses specimen quality and acceptability for performing the full spectrum of laboratory testing. - Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis considering physiologic processes and requirements. - Performs the full range of Send Out Section procedures for all laboratory sections including specimen accessioning, processing, distribution, manifest preparation, specimen storage, packaging, report verification, and report entry. - Completes Training for Shipping Dangerous Goods (Category A & B). - Implements and follows safety, Infection Control, OSHA, International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Joint Commission and DVA requirements concerning specimen processing and shipping and complies with regulations of CAP, AABB, FDA, and all other relevant regulatory bodies. - Develops procedures and protocols for sending samples from all laboratory sections to external entities for testing, analysis, and consultative services, as well as evaluating validity of the reference lab results, and reporting outside results in the VA electronic Health Record (EHR). - Sends samples from all laboratory sections to external entities for testing, analysis, and consultative services, evaluates validity of the reference lab results, and reports outside results in the VA electronic Health Record (EHR) following established procedures and protocols. - Contacts Reference Labs as needed for test information, pricing, shipping requirements, and report issues (clarification to comments, demographic corrections, reporting delays and cancellations) - Communicates with providers as needed to seek demographic information, patient history, and clarification of testing being requested. - Seeks approval from Pathologists for new tests and testing over the budget threshold. - Processes reference lab samples to assure all sample requirements are met. - Prepares manual testing requisitions and electronic manifests as appropriate. - Packs and ships all sample types to reference laboratories following all policies and procedures. - Packs and ships glass slides and blocks to the Joint Pathology center (JPC) for consultation. - Packs blood, glass slides, or paraffin blocks for genetic testing. - Packs and sends PAPs to an outside reference laboratory for interpretation. Tracks samples and scans and/or types results into the electronic medical record. - Packs and ships Glass Slides to other VA facilities for QC review. - Reconciles incomplete testing lists for all send out laboratories and VA Reference Laboratories. - Tracks packages, checks incomplete lists, reports test results, and communicates with providers as appropriate for send-out concerns and issues. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday,8:00 am - 4:30 pm subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 #:629-00624-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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