Medical Technologist (Technical Specialist) (Blood Bank)

Duties/Tasks

• Solves very complex problems related to transfusion service, performs complex maintenance procedures, has attended vendor training for an analytical instrument, is consulted as the in-house expert for troubleshooting, has responsibility for instrument reagent management program, and is able to recognize system failures that may lead to erroneous results.
• Coordinate with leadership the quality assurance, updates, validations and staff training for VistA Blood Establishment Computer System (VBECS)
• Assists with preparation for external reviews (Joint Commission, IG, CAP, FDA, etc) by reviewing regulatory, licensing and accrediting agency requirements for compliance within the service and recommends changes as appropriate. Serves as a College of American Pathologist (CAP) inspector as required by CAP.
• Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
• Performs quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports. Responsible for review of quality control and problem resolution in assigned department.
• Assists in investigation of complaints from hospital staff concerning test results.
• Oversees the operation of assigned department by coordinating technologist assignments assuring that all workload and maintenance is completed in a timely manner. Assigns and prioritizes work based on difficulty and requirements of assignment.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts and maintains instruments or delegates as appropriate. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple and complex repairs.
• Performs a full range of laboratory testing, including duty on weekends, holidays, nights and call-back. Incumbent will be required to rotate departments throughout transfusion service, hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis.
• Responsible for safety issues within the department. Ensures staff are assigned to perform ergonomic assessments and environmental monitors and reviews and approves results. Ensures that all new employees receive a complete service specific safety training. Ensures activities associated with process improvement or new safety training are accomplished. Is point of contact for the facilities transfusion committee
• Recognizes abnormal results which require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly.
• Provides technical guidance to technicians/technologists when quality control or instrument problems occur.
• Assists in developing and reviewing LMIP work reports and interprets quarterly reports based on laboratory data. Compiles annual workload and QI measures for the Transfusion Medicine Department.
• Evaluates and implements the use of new methodologies and instrumentation in the Section. Writes and updates procedure manuals in the assigned sections (Information Systems). Keeps abreast of new technology and justifies expenditures for purchase/lease which can reduce overall operating costs.
• Is trained and works in the hematology/coagulation/urinalysis departments of the clinic laboratory.
• Other duties as defined.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, rotating weekends and holidays.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of 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 #: 24672F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Starting at $82,248 Per Year (GS 11)