Office Medical Lab Scientist

Lexington Medical Center

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office Medical Lab Scientist procures and processes neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient specimens for laboratory testing, perform tests, and report test results in an accurate, timely manner. Detects and manages basic problems as they occur. Assures that the laboratory meets the standards set by CLIA, CAP, JCAHO and other governmental and peer review agencies at all times. Performs venipuncture to obtain blood specimens for testing purposes; processes specimens such as blood, urine, feces, etc., in preparation for lab testing; performs laboratory tests as assigned by section supervisor, pathologist; performs quality control and; preventative maintenance as assigned and documents these functions. Instructs MLT students and; new employees in performance or testing in lab, stays up-to-date on hospital and lab policies, and on technical knowledge. Supervises other lab personnel in the absence of the Section Supervisor.

Requirements

Four-year diploma in Medical Laboratory Science, Biological Science or Chemistry from a national or international accredited educational institution.
Transcript must include a minimum of 60 semester hours with 25 hours of coursework in clinical laboratory science, chemical and biological science required.
Must include a clinical laboratory rotation in immunohematology, chemistry, hematology and microbiology.
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) or an equivalent state or governmental certification from one of the following: National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA), American Medical Technologies (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry (AAB).
National certification may be at the medical laboratory science (MLS) level or a categorical certification in a recognized discipline of clinical laboratory science (i.e., chemistry, hematology, blood bank, microbiology).
Successful completion of approved medical technology training program of at least one year.
Ability to perform venipunctures to include capillary punctures for blood specimens from patients of various ages requiring developmentally appropriate techniques.
Ability to select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of test procedures independently using manual and/or instrumental techniques.
Ability to perform instrument calibration and verify data to meet manufacturer’s specifications.
Ability to perform routine quality control, preventative maintenance, and verification of correct instrument operation.
Ability to recognize indicators of instrument malfunction and perform corrective action.
Ability to perform trouble-shooting procedures on all assigned department equipment.
Ability to review patient and instrument data for accuracy and maintain proper records.
Ability to recognize abnormal results, evaluate and correlate data with other test results/diagnosis.
Ability to interpret appropriately and conduct follow-up action if required.
Ability to perform proper notification of abnormal results per policy.
Ability to achieve and maintain competency for waived, moderate and high complexity testing.
Adherence to safety policies and procedures.
Ability to provide patient care/support that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of the patient group served.
Ability to perform all assigned testing independently and successfully multi-task as necessary.
Ability to promote teamwork within the department.
Ability to perform additional assignments independently such as inventory of supplies, write or revise laboratory procedures/manuals, reports, and other documents.
Ability to review quality control documents for QC outliers and trends and take appropriate action.
Ability to print and review documents such as abnormal results, critical values, overdue logs/pending logs and communicate appropriately.
Ability to train new employees/students on technical procedures and equipment as assigned.
Works with others in a teamwork approach that promotes/encourages each person’s contributions toward achieving optimal goals.
Informs other personnel of circumstances that may affect the quality of testing and takes the responsibility to initiate appropriate follow-up.
Notifies appropriate personnel of critical test results or results that are deemed “alert” values.
Courteous and accurate in all communications and follows LMC confidentiality policies.
Demonstrates the ability to facilitate learning for coworkers, students, and other members of the health care team and community.
Maintains established continuing education requirements for national certification and for MLS LMC level requirements.
Demonstrates of clinical reasoning, which includes decision-making, critical thinking, and informed experiential knowledge and skill.

Nice To Haves

With a categorical certification, the employee’s practice at LMC will be limited to the category or categories listed by the certifying board.

Responsibilities

Procures and processes neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient specimens for laboratory testing.
Performs tests and reports test results accurately and in a timely manner.
Detects and manages basic problems as they occur.
Assures that the laboratory meets the standards set by CLIA, CAP, JCAHO and other governmental and peer review agencies.
Performs venipuncture to obtain blood specimens for testing purposes.
Processes specimens such as blood, urine, feces, etc., in preparation for lab testing.
Performs laboratory tests as assigned by section supervisor or pathologist.
Performs quality control and preventative maintenance as assigned and documents these functions.
Instructs MLT students and new employees in performance of testing in the lab.
Stays up-to-date on hospital and lab policies, and on technical knowledge.
Supervises other lab personnel in the absence of the Section Supervisor.
Performs manual laboratory testing (no or little automation).
Performs automated laboratory testing (requiring instrumentation to complete testing).
Collects specimens, which may include venipunctures and capillary punctures for blood specimens from patients of various ages requiring developmentally appropriate techniques.
Performs laboratory testing according to laboratory accreditation requirements and LMC Laboratory established procedures/policies.
Processes laboratory specimens related to assigned departments.
Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures independently using manual and/or instrumental techniques.
Performs instrument calibration and verifies data to meet manufacturer’s specifications.
Performs routine quality control, preventative maintenance, and verification of correct instrument operation.
Recognizes indicators of instrument malfunction and performs corrective action.
Performs trouble-shooting procedures on all assigned department equipment.
Communicates with service personnel and relays appropriate information to appropriate personnel.
Documents appropriately.
Reviews patient and instrument data for accuracy and maintains proper records (e.g., quality control reports).
Recognizes abnormal results, evaluates and correlates data with other test results/diagnosis.
Interprets results appropriately and conducts follow-up action if required.
Seeks appropriate assistance with problems.
Performs proper notification of abnormal results per policy.
Achieves and maintains competency for waived, moderate and high complexity testing.
Adheres to safety policies and procedures as established by LMC.
Provides patient care/support that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of the patient group served.
Performs all assigned testing independently and successfully multi-tasks as necessary.
Promotes teamwork within the department.
Performs additional assignments independently such as inventory of supplies, writing or revising laboratory procedures/manuals, reports, and other documents.
Reviews quality control documents for QC outliers and trends and takes appropriate action.
Prints and reviews documents such as abnormal results, critical values, overdue logs/pending logs and communicates appropriately.
Trains new employees/students on technical procedures and equipment as assigned.
Works with others in a teamwork approach that promotes/encourages each person’s contributions toward achieving optimal goals.
Informs other personnel of circumstances that may affect the quality of testing and takes the responsibility to initiate appropriate follow-up.
Notifies appropriate personnel of critical test results or results that are deemed “alert” values.
Independently takes the responsibility to provide appropriate information or refer to a supervisor or Pathologist if interpretation or explanation of test results is sought.
Demonstrates the ability to facilitate learning for coworkers, students, and other members of the health care team and community.
Maintains established continuing education requirements for national certification and for MLS LMC level requirements.
Participates in the teaching of medical laboratory science students/new employees in a clinical setting.
Demonstrates sensitivity to recognize, appreciate, and incorporate differences into the provision of care.
Demonstrates the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating procedures and methods of testing.
Creates changes through research utilization and experiential learning.
Demonstrates clinical reasoning, which includes decision-making, critical thinking, and informed experiential knowledge and skill.
Performs all other duties as assigned.