Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Technician

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority•Cherokee, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Performs clinical procedures and testing in accordance with approved policies and procedures and clinically accepted standards. Provides technical expertise to the Supervisory Medical Technologist regarding assigned laboratory areas. Assesses, prepares and/or updates procedure manuals, performs and reviews quality control and maintenance manuals while being cross-trained to function in any area of the clinical laboratory. Performs scheduled duty on weekends, holidays, and on an emergency callback basis as well as when requested to do so in order to facilitate patient care.

Requirements

POSITION REQUIRES A BA/BS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE AND CERTIFICATION OF MT (ASCP) OR EQUIVALENT ACCREDITING BODY, OR APPLICANT MUST OBTAIN CERTIFICATION WITHIN 24 MONTHS OF HIRE DATE.
A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT IS REQUIRED AND RECORDS OF TRAINING TO PERFORM MODERATE COMPLEXITY TESTING AS DEFINED IN THE CLIA REGULATION 42CFR493.1423.
REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS TO BECOME TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT.
Must possess professional and clinical knowledge of medical technology principles and procedures relative to the following disciplines: Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Blood Bank, Serology, Immunology, Parasitology, and Urinalysis.
Knowledge and skill sufficient to organize and conduct a wide variety of highly complex specialized laboratory tests relative to the following disciplines: Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Blood Bank, Serology, Immunology, Parasitology, and Urinalysis.
Knowledge of computer panels and how computers use and store data, electronic malfunctions and instrument capabilities as well as specific methodologies for the many tests in each of the laboratory disciplines.
Knowledge of preventive and corrective maintenance procedures for laboratory instrumentation.
Knowledge and understanding of Quality Control policies and procedures to be able to determine conformance to protocol.
Knowledge of regulatory agencies, practices, policies, and procedures and must possess the ability to develop, assess, and maintain documentation required by certifying/accrediting-agencies.
Knowledge and skill sufficient to provide clinical assistance and training to extern students relative to the basic principles and practices in medical technology.
Knowledge of Privacy Act regulations governing the confidential safeguarding and dissemination of medical information/records.
Must possess a valid NCDL.
Incumbent must be able to work alone.
Incumbent must be resourceful in calling experts when the need arises in any given area of the laboratory.
Incumbent must be able to work with no supervision.
The incumbent is responsible for all test results bearing his/her signature (may be electronic).
Various laboratory-testing procedures may require direct personal contact with patients requiring tests.
Additionally, the incumbent has direct communicative contact with Federal, State, Tribal, and county medical personnel, as well as nurses, mid-levels, physicians, support personnel, and administrative personnel within the Cherokee Indian Hospital.
Contact with repair personnel and technicians from laboratory equipment vendors is required.
Contact with the patient is required to accomplish the laboratory testing procedure requested by the patient’s physician and may include performing phlebotomy or capillary puncture or include instructions on how to collect other specimens.
Contact with the aforementioned personnel is needed to disseminate information relative to the policies and objectives of the unit.
The incumbent must be able to communicate patient results effectively and to aide other caregivers in the appropriateness of certain testing, answer questions relating to medical technology literature, etc.
Must maintain complete confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and personnel records, and all other pertinent information that comes to his/her attention or knowledge.
Must adhere to all tribal confidentiality policies and procedures.
Mental effort is required due to the multi-tasking the incumbent will be required to do.
The incumbent will be required to have more than one task running in the laboratory at a time, which requires good prioritization and organizational skills.
The incumbent will be working with and around sick or hurt patients, which requires mental distancing in emergency laboratory procedures which have to take precedence over his/her feelings.
The incumbent is required to perform phlebotomy and capillary procedures, which cause pain and are not always successful.
The incumbent must be able to succeed at acquiring the needed specimens while maintaining professional and comforting composure with the patient in spite of failed attempts.
May occasionally move more than 15 pounds.
Incumbent is required to use a microscope to discriminate between cell types, bacteria types, and to perform crystal identification.
Microscope use requires good/corrected eyesight.
Close range visual acuity is also necessary in microbiology plate reading, immunological agglutination procedures, and in Blood Bank typing.
A colorblind test is required of the incumbent.
Incumbents who are colorblind are not allowed to perform certain color differentiating tests (ex. Occult blood testing).
Incumbent will be required to stand and walk for several hours at a time in all areas of the laboratory and the hospital.
Certain procedures in the laboratory require manual dexterity, visual acuity, and physical effort to complete.
Incumbent must occasionally assist patients in the collection of specimens that may or may not require physical effort.
Incumbent will have to carry laboratory supplies, papers, manuals, and small instruments.
The laboratory environment carries risks and discomforts that require special safety precautions.
In addition, the laboratory environment is a high-risk area for HIV and Hepatitis exposure.
Work performance also involves risks of exposure to contagious diseases, carcinogenic materials, and caustic reagents.
Full and appropriate safety precautions must be worn and used (ex. lab coats, gloves, eyewear, etc.…) when performing laboratory work.
Microbiology procedures must be performed under the Class II safety hood.
The incumbent must practice correct and proper hand-washing protocols to maintain health.
The incumbent must participate in the Employee Health Program to aide in preventing work related injuries.
The laboratory environment has a higher than normal amount of noise pollution due to the number of analyzers, centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers that are running continuously.

Nice To Haves

STUDENT(S) ENROLLED IN AN ACCREDITED MT PROGRAM DOING THEIR CLINICAL ROTATION AT THE CIHA LABORATORY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR HIRE PRIOR TO GRADUATION.

Responsibilities

Performs clinical procedures and testing in accordance with approved policies and procedures and clinically accepted standards.
Provides technical expertise to the Supervisory Medical Technologist in any of the intra-laboratory disciplines; chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, serology, parasitology, and blood banking.
Performs instrument start-up procedures, observes all safety procedures, identifies instrument malfunctions, unacceptable reagent performance, and provides clinical instruction to other technologists and technicians.
Develops and reviews complex laboratory section procedures and participates in proficiency testing (CAP) as requested.
Performs laboratory instrument calibration standardization and preventative maintenance.
Develops and maintains inventory control of all reagents, quality controls, and materials associated with laboratory testing.
Performs phlebotomy procedures in accordance with accepted policies and standards on pediatric and adult patients.
Maintains a working knowledge of statistics and responsible for the calculation of monthly quality control statistics; mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, etc. Uses statistical data to conduct a critical assessment of daily, monthly, and yearly quality control performance.
Keeps abreast of new developments by research and continuing education in assigned discipline area and passes this information on to other technologists and technicians in the department.
Prepares special reports and performs special research as directed by the Supervisory Medical Technologist.
Prepares workload reports for assigned clinical area and submits on a monthly basis to laboratory supervisor.
Develops, assesses, prepares, and/or updates procedure manuals for assigned clinical laboratory area.
Develops and maintains clinical processes and procedures with the assistance of the laboratory supervisor in accordance with all applicable accrediting organizations (ex. CAP, JCAHO, etc.…) and participates in applicable accreditation inspections.
Performs and reviews quality control and preventive maintenance procedures for various areas of the laboratory an ongoing basis.
Maintains confidentiality of all patient results and reports.
Provides careful and respectful treatment to all patients and staff members.
Uses safe work practices that include maintaining a clean workplace, following established policies and procedures for safety and infection control, following universal blood/body fluid precautions, and reporting accidents/incidents promptly.
Organizes and prioritizes work efficiently to maintain a high level of productivity without sacrificing quality.
Collects data, organizes and prepares reports as required to fulfill compliance requirements by CAP, JCAHO or any other agency as required. Will also meet all competency requirements, including age specific competencies as mandated by accreditation organizations.
Assists the laboratory with maintaining CAP/JCAHO accreditation by compliance with standards and accurate performance of proficiency testing.
Performs complex data analysis on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis for each test in assigned clinical area (Hematology, Chemistry, Immunology, etc.…). Performs validation and crossover studies when introducing new testing methodologies into the laboratory.
Incumbent must be able to work alone.
Incumbent must be resourceful in calling experts when the need arises in any given area of the laboratory.
Cross-trained to be able to perform the following for each area: Chemistry/Immunology/Serology, Microbiology/Parasitology, Hematology, Blood Bank, Urinalysis.
Performs automated or manual “dipstick” testing of urine and performs microscopic exams of urine sediment.
Performs crystal analysis on urine specimens.
Writing and maintaining at least one procedure manual.
Teach students or newly hired technologists in all areas of the laboratory as needed.
Attain adequate skills to be able to work alone on weekends, holidays, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts when needed.
Subject to on-call status as necessary and must be able to return to the laboratory within 30 minutes when called by a provider for laboratory work on patients at all hours of the day.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor (ex. workload reports, changing shifts occasionally to accommodate workload requirements, etc.).