Medical Technologist 1, Day Shift, Full Time

Jackson Health•Miami, FL

About The Position

Medical Technologist 1 performs diagnostic tests and procedures in the clinical laboratory of a county medical facility. The role involves conducting diagnostic analyses, morphologic studies, and quantitative and qualitative determinations on blood, urine, cerebral spinal fluid, and other body-fluid and product specimens using recognized scientific theory, principles, and techniques. The position emphasizes independent judgment in determining accurate results and recognizing critical values. The technologist may supervise laboratory aides, assistants, technicians, medical technology students, and laboratory clerks as needed. A professional superior provides supervision, reviews results for professional quality, and assists with abnormal results. The role performs routine and specialized laboratory work, maintains instruments and supplies, follows quality-control and infection-control procedures, and communicates results and critical values according to protocol. The technologist may take charge of the department when supervisors are absent and assist with staffing.

Requirements

Associate's degree in a related field.
Generally, 1 to 3 years of related experience.
Valid Florida license as a Medical Technologist in the area of specialty.
Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work accurately while meeting multiple deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
Ability to understand and follow instructions.
Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment.
Knowledge and skill in using job-appropriate technology and software applications.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in a related field is strongly preferred.
ASCP Certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Produce accurate results according to age-specific standard operating procedures.
Match patient identification on specimens with work documents and test orders, avoiding clerical or data-entry errors.
Coordinate simultaneous procedures accurately and complete patient and quality-control procedures within defined time limits.
Interpret patient and quality-control samples or procedures, identify abnormal or incorrect results, and take appropriate action according to protocol.
Consult the supervisor for assignments, complete them, and notify the supervisor when necessary.
Recognize and document efforts to resolve equipment or procedural problems; participate in departmental QA/QI programs.
Complete routine tasks without direct supervision and oversee or perform preventive maintenance, documenting corrective actions.
Prioritize workload in response to STAT requests and report STAT results within one hour of collection or as soon as possible.
Learn new procedures and assignments within mutually agreed time frames, maintain current knowledge of procedure revisions and professional advances, and offer solutions to improve laboratory service.
Maintain appropriate inventory and stocked supplies; assist with weekly inventory and ordering, log received reagents, store supplies according to manufacturer specifications, and rotate stock.
Adapt to changes in assignments and, when requested, adjust personal schedules for patient care.
Maintain cleanliness and practice infection control to protect patients, coworkers, and self.
Keep written work documents neat, legible, organized, dated, and initialed; file quality-control and maintenance records promptly and retrieve them within 15 minutes when requested.
Follow departmental policies and procedures, monitor pending work and critical values, and organize work so workflow can be followed by other personnel.
Communicate regularly with subordinates and supervisors, provide initial non-technical assistance with routine problems, and demonstrate practical decision-making and leadership.
Prepare and record proficiency testing or perform other specialized tasks according to protocol; participate in CAP surveys and complete them on time.
Take charge of the department when supervisors are absent and assist in providing adequate staffing.
Perform instrument preventive maintenance daily, weekly, and monthly as outlined in the procedure manual; perform shift start-up procedures and inspect instruments to ensure proper functioning.
Perform quality control with each test and instrument checks to support accurate reported results.
Verify patient names on specimen labels against worksheets and test orders; confirm results correlate with the diagnosis.
Perform scheduled tests on the appropriate days and check and log refrigerator, freezer, incubator, and room temperatures daily.
Perform venipuncture or bleeding time accurately when needed and explain procedures thoroughly to patients.
Follow instructions when reconstituting controls and ensure specimens are at room temperature before testing.
Report panic values to the RN and patient's physician, and record the patient's name and results in the computer.
Complete work during the shift without sacrificing quality; prevent specimens from standing long enough to become unsuitable for testing.
Complete work left by other shifts, reduce hold-over testing, and report incomplete assignments or procedures to the next shift.
Demonstrate service excellence and CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Expertise.
Perform other related duties as assigned.