Medical Lab Scientist

Lexington Medical Center • West Columbia, SC

1d

About The Position

The Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) provides laboratory services to Lexington Medical Center inpatients and outpatients. The MLS ensures quality laboratory testing and accurate analysis to support patient outcomes, performing routine and specialty testing that provides timely, precise information for diagnosis and treatment. Work is conducted in accordance with Lexington Medical Center’s mission, vision, and strategic imperatives.

The role includes manual and automated testing and may require collecting blood specimens through venipuncture or capillary puncture, using developmentally appropriate techniques for patients of various ages. The MLS performs assigned testing independently, maintains testing competency, supports patient care, follows laboratory procedures and safety policies, and contributes to teamwork, training, continuing education, and ongoing evaluation of testing methods.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a nationally or internationally accredited educational institution; candidates with current active Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) certification may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Actively hold Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) certification from the ASCP Board of Certification or equivalent state or governmental certification, including NCA, AMT, or AAB Board of Registry.
• Certification may be at the MLS level or a categorical certification in a recognized clinical laboratory science discipline; practice with categorical certification is limited to the category or categories listed by the certifying board.
• Candidates who are registry eligible but do not hold active MT/MLS certification may be considered, but must obtain certification within one year of hire. Those who do not obtain certification within one year must have MT/MLS certification before reapplying.
• Required training: None.

Responsibilities

• Process laboratory specimens for assigned departments.
• Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor test procedures independently using manual or instrumental techniques.
• Perform instrument calibration, verify data against manufacturer specifications, conduct quality control and preventive maintenance, and verify proper instrument operation.
• Identify instrument malfunctions, take corrective action, troubleshoot equipment, communicate with service personnel, and document appropriately.
• Review patient and instrument data for accuracy and maintain records such as quality-control reports.
• Recognize abnormal results, evaluate and correlate data with other test results or diagnoses, interpret results appropriately, and take follow-up action or seek assistance when needed.
• Notify appropriate personnel of abnormal, critical, or alert results according to policy.
• Achieve and maintain competency for assigned waived, moderate, and high-complexity testing.
• Follow laboratory safety policies and procedures and provide patient care appropriate to patients’ cognitive, physical, and emotional needs.
• Perform assigned testing independently, multitask as needed, and promote teamwork within the department.
• Complete additional assignments such as inventorying supplies and writing or revising laboratory procedures, manuals, reports, and other documents.
• Review quality-control documents for outliers and trends and take appropriate action; review abnormal-result, critical-value, and overdue or pending logs and communicate appropriately.
• Train new employees and students on technical procedures and equipment as assigned.
• Collaborate with coworkers, nurses, physicians, other healthcare workers, administration, patients, and families in a teamwork-oriented manner.
• Inform personnel of circumstances that may affect testing quality and initiate appropriate follow-up.
• Provide or refer appropriate explanations of test results when requested, and communicate courteously and accurately while following confidentiality policies.
• Facilitate learning for coworkers, students, healthcare team members, and the community; participate in teaching laboratory science students and new employees in clinical settings.
• Maintain continuing-education requirements for national certification and Lexington Medical Center MLS level requirements.
• Recognize and incorporate individual differences into patient care.
• Question and evaluate testing procedures and methods, and contribute to changes through research utilization and experiential learning.
• Apply clinical reasoning, decision-making, critical thinking, and informed experiential knowledge and skill.
• Ensure hazardous waste and hazardous-waste pharmaceuticals are appropriately segregated, labeled, closed, stored, managed, and prepared for offsite disposal; complete initial RCRA training within six months of hire and annual refresher training thereafter.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Day-one medical, dental, and life insurance benefits.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
• 403(b) matching plan available from day one; employer matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
• Employer-paid life insurance equal to one times salary.
• Optional supplemental life insurance with low-cost premiums up to three times salary.
• Adoption assistance.
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage for full-time employees after 90 days of eligible employment.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Student loan forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

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