Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Twin Ports - ATC-POC

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

• The supervisory CLS exercises a full range of supervisory responsibilities in planning, directing, and assessing work of subordinate staff. The supervisory CLS recommends appointments, awards, advancement, and disciplinary actions. The CLS plans and assigns work based on priorities, requirements of assignments, and abilities of employees; provide advice and counsel; and evaluate work of subordinates. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Ancillary Testing and POC Program Develops and recommends policy and procedures for the procurement and service requirements for ancillary or point-of-care testing (Testing outside the physical confines of the main laboratory as mandated by VHA Directive 1106) Review and evaluate the appropriate correlation and calibration verification among different instrumentation and methodologies. Creates, applies and monitors continuous improvement initiatives within the program and/or organization. Maintains the laboratory's electronic document control system, ensuring the policies and procedures are reviewed/revised as needed and are current and consistent with regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. Serves as the technical expert for Twin Ports, Ancillary Testing and Point of Care Programs. Provides advice and consultation for markedly difficult, complex, or unique problems encountered in the laboratory section. Quality Assurance Assures corrective action is initiated when test performance (including proficiency testing survey samples) deviates from established performance specifications. Implements and monitors quality management activities. Coordinates quality control programs and assures compliance with the proficiency testing program in the section. Establishes and monitors quality control activities and document keeping systems. Establishes and maintains a program of preventive maintenance for equipment. Maintains all required records (QC, maintenance, incident reports, PT, and corrective action taken). Ensure all staff are compliant with all safety rules and regulations. Laboratory Operations & Leadership Carries out day-to-day supervision of the Twin Ports Outpatient Laboratory and the Ancillary Testing Program including waived, moderate and high complexity testing. Plans and schedules on-going work. Adjust staffing levels or work procedures. Collaborates in laboratory scheduling process. The supervisor performs the full range of supervisory duties for Twin Ports Outpatient Laboratory and Ancillary Program roles. Approves/disapproves or modifies leave for employees in the section. Monitors physician ordering practice, specimen collection/labeling errors, near-miss events, and the ability of the service to meet the needs of providers and patients. Evaluates and implements the use of new methodologies and instrumentation in the section. Write and updates procedure manuals. Keeps abreast of new technology and justifies expenditure for purchase/lease which can reduce overall operating costs. Recommend and implement improvements in overall efficiency and functioning of PLM regarding management decisions that may affect the service function, and if needed develop new policies and guidelines. Assists in managing financial resources of PLM that includes personnel. Assists in maintaining control point activity from the initiation of supply requests. Inspections/Accreditation Ensures compliance of all laws, policies, precedents, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting requirements from Joint Commission, College of American Pathologists, CLIA and ensures compliance with VHA Directives. Training/Education Identifies training needs appropriate for the type and complexity of the laboratory services performed. Assures orientation, training, and competency assessment of staff. Conducts in-services and training sessions in hospital department as related to laboratory testing. Mentor and contribute to the professional development of employees, residents and students. Work Sched…

Qualifications

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA) on a separate document. 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. Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below. Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT. Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT. Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT. NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including, Ancillary Testing Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Laboratory Information Manager, Quality Manager, Laboratory Manager, Regional Technical Specialist, National Quality and Compliance Agent, Regional Program Manager, Regional Director, Laboratory Director, or National Quality and Compliance Officer). 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: 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- The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). Grade Determination:GS-13: Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (listed below) to fully perform at that grade level. GS-12 experience is defined as: Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice. Skill to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair laboratory instrumentation. Ability to develop procedures for new tests, and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations. Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section. Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training. Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing, specimen requirements and results. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations, laboratory accrediting…

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application. 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/.