Medical Technologist II - Microbiology (40hrs Days)

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

5h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Technical Supervisor, this position provides ancillary support for clinical activities by performing and appropriately interpreting moderate and high complexity clinical laboratory tests as defined under CLIA ‘88. The Medical Technologist II acts as a resource for laboratory users, reviews testing performed by other staff for regulatory compliance, and prioritizes STAT and routine samples. Key responsibilities include ensuring accurate specimen identification and labeling, verifying sample appropriateness, performing testing within defined timeframes, and initiating actions to resolve specimen issues. The role also involves instrument maintenance, recognizing and reporting equipment or methodology problems, performing QC procedures, and assessing Quality Control data. The technologist must possess the analytic abilities to perform highly complex testing, interpret findings, calibrate instruments, and maintain clear, concise records. They are responsible for reviewing patient results, investigating discrepancies, and transcribing results accurately into the LIS system, including critical alert values. This role also includes documenting reagent receipt and performance, maintaining blood inventories (Blood Bank only), ensuring work completion by shift end, assisting other laboratory sections, and participating in Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement activities. The position requires active participation in competency documentation, continuing education, and staff meetings. Additionally, the Medical Technologist II supports the education of students and new staff, participates in committees, communicates professionally, works cooperatively with colleagues, and reports safety incidents. They maintain a neat work area, plan and prioritize tasks, manage variable workloads, and maintain open communication with leadership. Restocking workstations, assessing inventory, and notifying management of supply needs are also part of the role. Adherence to Boston Medical Center’s values, Hospital and Laboratory Infection Control and Safety procedures, and the Dress Code policy is mandatory. This role performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science which includes successful completion of a supervised course of clinical internship in an approved hospital laboratory, OR a Bachelor’s degree in an applied science (Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry).
For those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, must have two years of experience in a clinical laboratory.
If the Bachelor’s Degree is in Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science, then must have one year experience in clinical laboratory.
Knowledge of clinical laboratory science and standards necessary to perform high complexity testing as defined by CLIA and to accurately report results.
Analytic abilities to perform highly complex testing as defined under CLIA 88, including interpreting findings, perform calculations, calibrate instruments, review highly complex testing performed by other employees.
Ability to maintain compliance with all regulatory agency (e.g. JCAHO, CAP, FDA, AABB) requirements.
Manual/visual dexterity necessary to prepare specimens, prepare solutions, screen specimens and operate a computer software system.
English verbal and written language skills sufficient to exchange information with physicians, interact with other technologists and so forth.
HIPAA policies
Hospital and Laboratory Infection Control and Safety procedures
BMC and Departmental Dress Code policy

Nice To Haves

Certification by American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or equivalent agency as a Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, or specialty certification is preferred.
Equivalent agency is defined as an agency that requires a degree in science from an accredited college or university with successful completion of an examination for certification. Such agencies include but are not limited to ASCP, NCA, American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), Health Education and Welfare (HEW), and American Society of Microbiologists (AMT).

Responsibilities

Performs moderate and high complexity tests and interprets them after specialized training and required experience.
Acts as a resource and interprets tests for laboratory users.
Reviews testing and/or procedures performed by other staff to maintain compliance with regulatory agencies.
Prioritizes STAT and routine samples.
Ensures accurate specimen identification and specimen labeling.
Ensures appropriateness of sample for requested testing, obtains approval for testing which deviates from standard operating procedure and follows up with notification to patient care unit and documentation in LIS.
Ensures sample testing is performed within the defined time periods for each test type based on specimen viability.
Initiates appropriate action and documents steps taken to resolve mislabeled/unlabeled or inappropriate specimens.
Informs/alerts other laboratory sections about patient identification or medical record number problems, and special specimen requirements.
Ensures that prepared samples are stored according to standard operating procedure.
Ensures aliquotting and processing of specimens is performed within established time limits for each test.
Accessions for all required tests according to standard operating procedure as needed.
Performs instrument and equipment maintenance as defined by each section's policy and procedures.
Recognizes instrument, equipment or methodology problems/discrepancies and brings them, with documentation, to Assistant Supervisor or Manager’s attention.
Notifies coworkers of relevant equipment issues in management absence and includes the information in shift change hand-off.
Performs QC procedures and assesses Quality Control data according to section policy and procedures.
Recognizes technical and non-technical problems/discrepancies in laboratory operations and brings these to Assistant Supervisor or Manager’s attention.
Notifies coworkers of relevant technical issues in management absence and includes information in shift change hand-off.
Performs analytic testing and assesses the validity of their results.
Maintains and provides clear, concise, accurate and legible records of test performance.
Reviews patient results, recognizes problems and/or discrepancies.
Investigates and performs additional testing to resolve problematic patient test results.
Transcribes results/information with accuracy into LIS system per LIS policy.
Appends appropriate coded comments as required by section standard operating procedures and LIS policy and procedure.
Reviews entered LIS codes as required by section standard operating procedures for transcription accuracy.
Notifies appropriate person of all Critical Alert Values and required call back of results.
Provides documentation of Critical Alert Values in LIS as required.
Maintains proficiency for all designated LIS functions as outlined in section specific policies and procedures.
Provides proper documentation of receipt, quality control performance and implementation of reagents/lots/materials.
Ensures adequate Blood inventories are maintained according to standard operating procedure (Blood Bank only).
Ensures all work is completed by end of shift and/or accounted for at shift change hand-off.
Assists other laboratory sections as needed when directed by supervisory staff members, including cross-training where required.
Participates in Quality Assurance /Quality Improvement activities.
Maintains active participation in completing initial, semi-annual and annual competency documentation.
Maintains self-documentation on continuing education form of departmental level requirement per fiscal year, and attends scientific, service related and/or departmental continuing education classes.
Attends all scheduled staff meetings or, if unable, accepts responsibility for reading staff communications.
Supports education of Medical Technology students, Pathology residents, new staff existing staff and others through participation in teaching activities.
Participates in all Sectional or Departmental committees or task forces as requested by manager.
Communicates via telephone and other methods according to professional courtesy standards and departmental policy.
Works cooperatively with other laboratory staff members and takes initiative to determine where assistance is needed and renders assistance.
Reports within shift all incidents, safety hazards or accidents to appropriate personnel.
Completes mandatory safety education sessions per BMC and Departmental policy.
Abides by HIPPA policies and respects patient and employee confidentiality.
Keeps equipment and work area neat, orderly and well stocked; puts supplies away when received.
Upon successful completion of training and competency, performs assignments with a minimum of direction.
Plans and prioritizes tasks and adjusts to variable workloads.
Maintains open communication with section leadership, including Assistant Supervisors, Managers and Medical Directors.
Restocks work station after each shift and assesses the inventory as required by section.
Notifies management of supply needs.
Adheres to Boston Medical Center’s values as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the institution’s mission of exceptional care without exception.
Follows established Hospital and Laboratory Infection Control and Safety procedures.
Follows BMC and Departmental Dress Code policy, including appropriate PPE.
Performs other duties as assigned or as needed.