Medical Laboratory Scientist, Sr.

UVA Health•Gainesville, VA

7d•$33 - $51

About The Position

The Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist performs quality control and complex patient testing across routine, specialized, and assigned laboratory areas. The role verifies and reports results according to departmental policies, reports and documents critical values, considers clinical correlations with other patient information, and prioritizes workload to meet expected turnaround times. The scientist maintains competency and develops new skills as laboratory technologies change. The position manages supplies and reagents, including inventory assessment, receipt, storage, quality verification, appropriate use, and safe disposal. It performs and documents routine and complex equipment maintenance, troubleshoots instrument malfunctions, coordinates repairs when needed, and completes processes required before instruments return to service. As a team leader, the scientist supports shift transitions and may fill in as Operations Supervisor, assessing workflow and staffing and taking corrective action when appropriate. In coordination with laboratory leadership, the role may coordinate product, method, or test development; restock workstations; identify specimen-status trends and resolve issues; and participate in peer interviews. The scientist leads or participates in quality assurance, safety, compliance, technical studies, and process-improvement activities. The role serves as an expert resource for technical questions, assists staff and management with problem resolution, reviews related documentation, and handles customer complaints professionally. It also trains, mentors, and supports laboratory staff, students, and healthcare professionals, including onboarding, trainee assessment, and timely training documentation. Trainees must be supervised while performing and reporting laboratory results. The position requires professional communication, respect for privacy, customer service, teamwork, accountability, and ongoing participation in performance improvement. Patient-care duties include collecting, labeling, and preparing specimens; maintaining laboratory procedure documentation; processing test requisitions; and preparing and distributing reports. The role may require use of infection-prevention safety equipment, on-call responsibilities, and travel among campus buildings, remote facilities, or out of town as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in medical technology, clinical laboratory science, or a chemical, physical, or biological science, or equivalent, plus successful completion of a NAACLS-accredited Medical Laboratory Science program; OR a bachelor’s degree including 35 semester hours in Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Math, plus five years of full-time experience in Blood Bank, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Hematology; OR a bachelor’s degree including 30 semester hours in Biology and Chemistry, plus five years of full-time experience in a categorical examination area.
Three years of experience as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
Technologist/Scientist certification from ASCP or AMT-MT.
Required licensure/certification category: BB, C, H, MT/MLS, M, or MB.
ASCP-certified individuals beginning January 1, 2004 must participate in and maintain ASCP Board of Certification through the Certification Maintenance Program; AMT-certified individuals beginning January 1, 2006 must participate in and maintain AMT Certification Continuation Program.
Knowledge of current medical terminology, laboratory testing and equipment, quality control, and instrumentation troubleshooting.
Ability to perform a full range of laboratory tests; follow written protocols; read and understand laboratory instrumentation information; work independently; communicate clearly; and remain calm in emergencies.
Ability to develop and maintain department quality assurance and establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, hospital staff, and the public.
Physical ability to meet the stated medium-to-heavy demands, including constant standing, frequent walking and bending or stooping, and lifting, pushing, or pulling up to 100 pounds; safe-handling equipment is required for weights over 35 pounds.
Proficient communication, auditory, and visual skills; attention to detail; and ability to write legibly.

Responsibilities

Perform quality control and complex patient testing in routine, specialized, and assigned laboratory areas; verify and report results according to policy.
Report and document critical values, incorporate clinical correlations into result verification, and manage workload to meet turnaround-time expectations.
Maintain competency and develop skills as laboratory technologies change.
Assess inventory; receive, store, verify, use, and dispose of reagents and supplies according to policies, manufacturer instructions, and safety guidelines.
Perform and document scheduled routine and complex equipment maintenance; recognize, troubleshoot, document, and resolve malfunctions; coordinate technical service or repairs as needed; and complete instrument re-entry processes.
Serve as a team leader, facilitate shift transitions, and act as Operations Supervisor as needed by assessing workflow and staffing and initiating corrective actions.
Coordinate and implement product, method, or new-test development as directed by the Lead Technologist or area Manager.
Restock workstations, identify specimen-status trends and issues, and implement corrective action according to departmental policy.
Conduct peer interviews fairly and consistently.
Lead quality assurance monitoring and initiate or participate in quality, safety, compliance, technical study, and process-improvement activities.
Report and investigate quality issues promptly and accurately; apply compliance requirements to testing and reporting; and help maintain a safe laboratory environment.
Serve as an expert resource for analytical and technical questions; assist staff and management with investigations and problem resolution; review documentation; and handle customer complaints.
Train, mentor, and serve as a role model for staff, students, and healthcare professionals; support onboarding, select appropriate training methods, document training and assessments, and supervise trainees during testing and result reporting.
Communicate professionally, protect patient and employee privacy, support internal and external customers, maintain positive working relationships, and contribute to team and performance-improvement activities.
Collect, label, and prepare specimens for testing; maintain procedure documentation; process test requisitions; and prepare and distribute reports.
Use on-call availability as directed and travel between campus buildings, remote facilities, or out of town as needed.