Career Center

Summary

This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service - VA ECHCS. The incumbent provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization as it applies to quality management in a clinical laboratory setting.

Qualifications

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
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• NOTE: The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director) - GS-15 - requires unique education requirements
• Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below
• Certification
• Candidates must meet one of the certification options below
• (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program
• OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take 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)
• Grade Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Quality Manager) -GS-12 Experience
• 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge of the concepts - principles - and practices of medical technology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in planning - coordinating - and evaluating laboratory services
• (B) Knowledge of accrediting agencies and regulatory requirements pertaining to laboratory operations
• (C) Knowledge of laboratory operations and relationships to the organization
• (D) Skill in applying laboratory quality control/assurance policies - procedures - and principles and safety practices and regulations
• (E) Ability to apply quality management performance improvement principles - methodology - and processes to develop and manage a clinical laboratory quality management program
• (F) Ability to apply statistical evaluation and analysis to quality assurance data and implement corrective actions when indicated
• Preferred Experience: Assisting their lab with Accreditation experience and Quality Management 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-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform moderate lifting up to 20 lbs. - straight pulling - pushing - reaching above the shoulder - use of fingers and both hands - walking - standing for up to 4 hours - kneeling - repeated bending - use of both arms and legs
• Specific visual requirements include use of both eyes - depth perception - ability to distinguish colors and shades of colors - hearing (aids permitted) - clear - high cognitive function and emotional stability
• ability to read ordinary type without strain.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Clinical Laboratory Scientist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Technologist-Career-Flyer.pdf Serves as a consultant - facilitator - trainer - & technical advisor to staff at all levels to ensure facility compliance with clinical laboratory accreditation & regulatory standards that include - but are not limited to - Joint Commission (JC) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - National Enforcement Office (NEO) - Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) & the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
• Ensures the laboratory maintains continuous readiness & supports the organization's performance improvement & patient safety programs
• Maintains a laboratory performance improvement program & ensures monitoring of components & customer feedback to: Regularly interacts with clinical staff - management officials & organizations involved in inter-laboratory quality assurance & proficiency testing
• Detect & prevent errors in laboratory practice
• Assists in reducing process variations that can cause errors
• Improve efficiency of processes without sacrificing quality or safety
• Comply with all applicable laws - regulations - policies - precedents - & accreditation requirements
• Works closely with Blood Bank & Anatomic Pathology staff for their specific quality improvement programs
• Develops - implements - & performs quality management policy review
• Assists Lab Manager with VA directives review
• Attends Accreditation committee meetings
• Advises lab management on quality management concerns that could impact other services & assists with the necessary follow-ups
• Identifies current lab functions needing improvement & develops a plan with associated individuals to implement change and monitor improvement
• Uses comprehensive knowledge for statistical evaluation & analysis & understand laboratory operations & the laboratory's relationship to the organization
• Provides oversight - guidance - & advice to develop required quality assurance monitors & focused reviews
• Provides consultative services for laboratory-related root cause analysis - heath care failure mode effect analysis - sentinel events - develops action plans & outcome measures
• Establishes processes to monitor compliance with policies - identify patterns &/or trends - & ensure findings from quality management activities & performance improvement initiatives are used to redesign systems to improve quality
• Implements surveillance procedures to monitor variables that affect quality of services
• Utilizes their skill in evaluating - interpreting - & teaching others to use quality control procedures & implement corrective action
• Prepares Agenda for Quality Assurance Committee - Ancillary Blood and Laboratory Utilization Committee Health Care Delivery Council & finalizes minutes
• Serves as Coordinator for Employee Drug Screening Program
• Facilitate achieving the needs of the agency with availability of staff
• Along with Phlebotomy Supervisor & Laboratory Manager - serves as Patient Advocacy Tracking System (PATS) customer service liaison
• Facilitates phlebotomy services in the absence of the Phlebotomy Supervisor
• Prepares & coordinates the required surveys for providers & patients
• Approves 2237s as required
• Coordinates Strategic Plan development process with lab with Lab Manager & Chief - P&LMS
• Shall conform to all VHA & local directives related to safety - life safety - health - hazardous materials & emergency management directives
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7am-3:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary & 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 #: 60377-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized