Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Send Outs

Veterans Health Administration • New Orleans, LA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist – Send Outs performs the full range of send-out laboratory procedures, including accessioning, processing, distributing, documenting, packaging, shipping, tracking, and reporting specimens sent to external laboratories and other facilities. The role develops and follows procedures for external testing, evaluates reference laboratory results, enters outside results into the VA electronic health record, and coordinates with providers, pathologists, and reference laboratories to resolve questions and issues. The position requires compliance with applicable safety, infection-control, shipping, and regulatory requirements. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-07 through GS-11. The position is not virtual, and telework is not available. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks and requires handling multiple tasks, sometimes in stressful situations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception under VA policy for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Meet an applicable certification option: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or an applicable categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT. Categorical or specialist certification is limited to relevant laboratory sections or specified non-section-specific assignments.
• Non-certified applicants may qualify through one of the specified routes to certification eligibility and may be appointed at entry level under the stated temporary appointment and supervision conditions.
• Meet the experience or education requirements for the grade sought. GS-07 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-09 requires one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade or a relevant master’s degree/two years of progressively higher graduate education; GS-11 requires one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade or three years of progressively higher graduate education/a relevant doctoral degree.
• For GS-09, demonstrate knowledge of clinical laboratory testing policies and procedures, quality control and assurance, laboratory equipment and routine maintenance; teamwork and assignment-completion ability; ability to interpret written instructions; and accurate performance across pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing phases.
• For GS-11, demonstrate professional clinical laboratory science knowledge; quality control, quality assurance, and performance-improvement knowledge; informatics, laboratory data-flow, and laboratory-process skills; instrumentation maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair ability; independent technical judgment in analyzing and interpreting results; ability to apply complex written instructions; and effective communication and consultation with healthcare-team members and external contacts.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Meet background and security investigation requirements, onboarding requirements, applicable identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.
• Physical ability may be required for standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; may need to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing.

Nice To Haves

• ASCP or AMT certification and at least two years of experience working as a Medical Technologist.
• A demonstrated history of job stability.
• At least three continuous years of independent evening- or overnight-shift experience in a core laboratory, including Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, and Blood Bank.

Responsibilities

• Perform send-out procedures for all laboratory sections, including specimen accessioning, processing, distribution, manifest preparation, storage, packaging, report verification, provider notification, and report entry.
• Complete annual or as-required training for shipping dangerous goods in Categories A and B.
• Follow safety, infection-control, OSHA, IATA, The Joint Commission, VA, CAP, AABB, FDA, and other applicable requirements for specimen processing and shipping.
• Develop procedures and protocols for sending laboratory samples to external entities for testing, analysis, and consultative services.
• Evaluate reference laboratory results and report outside results in the VA electronic health record.
• Contact reference laboratories about test information, pricing, shipping requirements, and report issues such as clarification, demographic corrections, delays, or cancellations.
• Communicate with providers to obtain demographic information and patient history and to clarify requested testing.
• Obtain pathologist approval for new tests and testing above the budget threshold.
• Process reference laboratory samples to ensure all sample requirements are met.
• Prepare manual testing requisitions and electronic manifests as appropriate.
• Pack and ship slides, blocks, blood, and other specimens for consultation, genetic testing, interpretation, or quality-control review at external laboratories and other VA facilities.
• Track samples and packages, scan or enter results into the electronic medical record, and reconcile incomplete testing lists for send-out and VA reference laboratories.
• Report test results and communicate with providers about send-out concerns and issues.
• Resolve lost or delayed packages and create Issue Briefs as needed.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level