Medical Laboratory Scientist 2, HMC Microbiology Laboratory

University of Washington Medical Center • Seattle, WA

1d • $41 - $61 • Onsite

About The Position

UW Medicine’s Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology is hiring a Medical Laboratory Scientist 2 for the Microbiology Team at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. HMC is a Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center and verified burn center that serves vulnerable and underserved populations. The microbiology team performs mycobacteriology testing for HMC patients and clients throughout Washington. Testing includes acid-fast bacilli smears, Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR, organism identification, and susceptibility testing. The laboratory coordinates with infection control, infectious diseases, and county and state public health laboratories to provide accurate, timely results.

In addition to performing all duties of an MLS 1, the MLS 2 assists the Manager and MLS Leads with educational programs, staff and student training and performance feedback, and daily operations. The role exercises technical judgment, supports quality and safety, reviews results, provides daily leadership when designated, and contributes to procedure and process development and improvement.

This is a regular, 100% FTE position on a Monday–Friday day shift, with rotating weekends and holidays. The pay range is $41.26–$60.82 per hour. The position is represented by SEIU Local 925 Healthcare Prof/Lab Tech.

Requirements

• Accredited bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science, or equivalent education and experience.
• Current Medical Laboratory Scientist certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or an equivalent certifying organization, or certification from a specialty organization appropriate to the laboratory division.
• Two years of experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist 1 or equivalent experience.
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except where legal requirements, such as licensure, certification, or registration, apply.

Responsibilities

• Recognize, troubleshoot, correct, and document problems involving patient testing, quality control, and preventive maintenance.
• Assist with instruction and training for employees, post-doctoral fellows, residents, medical students, and medical technology students, and provide timely evaluation feedback.
• Participate in continuing education activities and keep ASCP or other certifications current according to national organization guidelines.
• Assist with developing and evaluating new procedures and processes, assess the relevance and accuracy of current procedures and processes, and participate in process improvement.
• Review staff work to ensure reports are correct and clinically relevant; ensure corrected reports and corrective actions are handled and documented promptly.
• Consult with healthcare providers about critical or abnormal findings.
• Use information management systems to accession, status, verify, and reject orders, and enter test results in the laboratory information system.
• Report critical values, STAT results, courtesy notifications, and routine results according to established protocols, maintaining turnaround-time guidelines and complete documentation.
• Ensure quality-control standards and competencies are met and documented, and ensure preventive maintenance is performed according to protocol; assist staff and troubleshoot methods and instrumentation as needed.
• Provide daily leadership when designated and assist with workload management, technical assistance to staff and clients, inquiries and complaints, safety compliance, and minimizing overtime.
• Provide administrative assistance with interviewing and selecting employees, evaluating employees, documenting staff competencies, and recommending cost-containment strategies.
• Assist with scheduling, purchasing supplies, quality-improvement projects, and other assigned tasks.
• Provide care or services using knowledge and skills appropriate to patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related needs.
• Perform all duties of an MLS 1 and related duties as required.

Benefits

• Monthly accruing vacation and sick time.
• 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at UW or participating colleges or universities.
• Fully subsidized U-PASS for multiple forms of regional public transportation.
• Healthcare, dental, disability, and retirement plan options.
• Fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress-reduction classes through Whole U.

What This Job Offers

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