Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Ancillary Testing Coordinator)
About The Position
The Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Ancillary Testing Coordinator (CLS-ATC) oversees the ancillary testing program for the Hampton VA Medical Center, including testing conducted outside the main laboratory. The role develops and recommends policies and procedures for procurement and service requirements for ancillary and point-of-care testing equipment, and ensures required CLIA licenses are maintained for off-site facilities such as Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The CLS consults with clinical service leadership to identify testing needs, assesses emerging trends and technologies, and adopts appropriate testing methods. The position validates new testing procedures before implementation, ensures appropriate correlation among instruments and methodologies, and trains, evaluates, and documents staff competency in testing, result reporting, and specimen procurement and processing. The CLS provides authoritative technical advice, training, troubleshooting, quality assessment, and consultation on quality control and assurance, records control, proficiency testing, inspections, and accreditation. The role also evaluates ongoing compliance, recommends corrective policy or protocol changes, supports continuous performance improvement and reengineering initiatives, and resolves complex data issues while ensuring test-system data integrity. Additional duties may be assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- Meet one of the certification options: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT.
- One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level for the GS-12 assignment.
- Knowledge of medical technology concepts, principles, practices, and methodologies sufficient to oversee and guide testing programs outside the laboratory.
- Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as applied to quality control, quality assurance, proficiency testing, inspection, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement.
- Knowledge of Federal, state, and VHA laws, regulations, reference standards, and certifying or accrediting agency requirements applicable to ancillary testing sites.
- Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and interconnectivity.
- Skill in applying new scientific and technological developments and theories to laboratory testing.
- Ability to evaluate and interpret quality-control procedures, teach others to use them, and implement corrective actions.
- U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Must satisfy applicable background/security investigation, pre-employment drug-screening, and physical-examination requirements; seasonal influenza vaccination is required.
- Must complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
- Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the ancillary testing program for the Hampton VA Medical Center.
- Develop, recommend, write, and implement policies and procedures for procurement and service requirements for ancillary or point-of-care testing equipment and instrumentation.
- Ensure appropriate correlation among different instruments and testing methodologies.
- Validate new testing procedures before implementation.
- Train, evaluate, and document the competency of physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, and other staff in ancillary testing procedures and timely, accurate, proficient test-result reporting.
- Train, evaluate, and document hospital staff competency in laboratory specimen procurement and processing.
- Educate hospital staff on laboratory policies and procedures when assigned by the Laboratory Manager or Chief, P&LMS.
- Provide technical advice and ancillary testing program consultation on quality control and assurance, records control, proficiency testing, inspection, and accreditation.
- Evaluate ancillary testing activities for ongoing compliance with established protocols and guidelines.
- Recommend policy or protocol changes to correct deficiencies and improve the program.
- Create, apply, and monitor reengineering and continuous performance improvement initiatives within the program or organization.
- Identify, define, and resolve issues involving complex data, and ensure data integrity in relation to test systems.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
- Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
- Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
