7/70 Medical Laboratory Scientist

Fairview Health Services•Maplewood, MN

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Fairview is hiring a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist for the Acute Care Laboratory at M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, Minnesota. This is a full-time 7/70 night-shift position, scheduled Thursday through Wednesday from 9:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Hours are normally documented as seven consecutive 10-hour shifts in a two-week period and paid as 80 hours of work. The hospital laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility offering diagnostic services in hematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, and molecular diagnostics. The Medical Laboratory Scientist functions independently in professional laboratory practice, performs complex diagnostic and therapeutic testing, and serves as a resource for problem resolution and interpretation of results. The role requires correlating data using clinical knowledge and technical expertise, collaborating with laboratory customers, and participating in performance improvement activities.

Requirements

A baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university in a related laboratory field, including the related laboratory practicum, or an equivalent route meeting CLIA ’88 qualifications for high-complexity testing personnel.
Qualifying education may include a bachelor's degree in chemical, biological, clinical, or medical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution.
Alternatively, a bachelor's degree with 16 semester hours in biology, including one semester of microbiology, and 16 semester hours in chemistry, including one semester of organic chemistry or biochemistry.
Alternatively, a transcript evaluation verifying equivalency to a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
Alternatively, completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course and a bachelor's degree with the specified biology and chemistry coursework.
Alternatively, a master's degree from an accredited college or university in molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, cytology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, allied health, medical laboratory science, or an appropriately related field.
Provide the specified diploma, transcript, or equivalency-verification documentation applicable to the qualifying education route.
Possess, or be eligible to receive, appropriate HHS-approved laboratory certification: ASCP, ASCPi, or AMT MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) or MT (Medical Technologist) within one year; HEW Medical Technologist certification may be considered.

Responsibilities

Obtain specimens from patients of all ages and levels of physical or mental disability, following established collection and prioritization guidelines.
Verify patient identity and specimen identification, and assess specimen integrity before testing.
Perform a wide variety of complex diagnostic and therapeutic testing, including waived, moderate, or high-complexity testing as defined by CLIA ’88.
Operate laboratory instrumentation and information systems according to procedure and complete specified instrument maintenance.
Recognize problems, troubleshoot laboratory procedures and operational issues, take appropriate action, and consult a supervisor when unable to resolve issues.
Initiate appropriate safety or emergency responses.
Use critical thinking to maintain and improve department productivity and efficiency.
Evaluate test results for accuracy, appropriate intervention, normal parameters, reporting protocols, and age-specific reference ranges.
Investigate abnormal, discrepant, or unexpected results; communicate abnormal and critical results directly to caregivers; and obtain information to resolve incongruent results.
Follow laboratory quality assurance, performance improvement, and compliance programs; document deviations and actions taken, reagent/test-kit/calibrator checks, and regulatory compliance.
Recognize and communicate values and trends that exceed quality-control decision levels, take action to resolve them, and consult a supervisor as needed.
Participate in laboratory performance improvement by collecting data, reviewing results, and implementing recommended action steps.
Collaborate with laboratory customers to promote customer satisfaction.
Orient and mentor new employees and students in routine and complex testing methods, instrumentation, and information systems.
Assess trainee needs and progress, check work before release, complete training checklists and evaluations as appropriate, and report progress or problems to a supervisor or manager.