Technical Lead

Mercy Cedar Rapids•Baltimore, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care through technical leadership in the Laboratory. The Technical Lead provides functional supervision of Lab staff in their area of responsibility, including competency assessment and new staff training. The Technical Lead directs and reviews the performance of all tests in the lab or lab section, implements and maintains quality control and quality management programs for the lab or lab section, maintains and reviews instrument records for the lab or lab section, develops policies and procedures related to testing in the section, and adheres to various accrediting agency standards.

Requirements

At least 2 years in a clinical laboratory setting, with at least one year in the area of responsibility.
Associate's degree in medical laboratory, biological, or chemical science; completion of a 50 week US military medical laboratory training program; or completion of other laboratory training program.
Certification with American Society for Clinical Pathology - ASCP or American Medical Technologists - AMT as a Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Technologist or other prior CLIA recognized certifications may be acceptable.
Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures
Knowledge of regulatory requirements, including CAP, COLA, CLIA, DNV, and FDA
Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure without sacrificing quality
Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work with interruptions
Skilled in use of standard laboratory instrumentation
Skilled in use of the laboratory information system (LIS)
Ability to think critically about test results in relation to patient condition
Ability to recognize and correct problems with quality control
Ability to recognize problems and troubleshoot laboratory equipment
Ability to be detail-oriented
Ability to complete appropriate documentation and paperwork clearly and completely
Knowledge of basic management principles
Ability to coach and hold staff accountable

Responsibilities

Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed. Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome
Properly identifies patients and samples during the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.
Maintains and improves skills by participating in at least one continuing education activity annually.
Actively seeks and identifies opportunities for process improvement.
Responsible for procedure writing, updating, and validating.
Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements that apply to the lab or lab section.
Acts as a resource for laboratory medicine information to providers and others.
Uses laboratory information system to access information and enter information.
Educates and trains new staff and students.
Provides leadership to technical staff and role models professional behavior.
Initiates crucial conversations with staff concerning behavior and performance, can issue up to a documented counseling level of corrective action.
Works with the Lab Manager to recommend further disciplinary action and to assist in performance management and evaluation.
Responsible for submission and review of proficiency testing, including working with the Lab Manager as needed on corrective action.
Maintains technical competencies as outlined in staff level job descriptions by working at the bench at least 25% of the time. This includes a regular weekend and/or holiday rotation.
Actively participates in Laboratory Leadership activities and other teams, committees, and councils as assigned.
Serves as primary resource and troubleshooter for lab/section instrumentation.
Ensures proper inventory and ordering of department supplies.
Assists Lab Manager with staffing and scheduling needs and works on the bench as needed to meet minimum staffing levels and during periods of high patient census.
Adjusts scheduled activities, tasks, projects and obligations as needed to meet fluctuating staffing and patient needs.
Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.