Medical Technologist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Performs a variety of routine and specialized medical laboratory diagnostic tests on blood and body fluid specimens as prescribed by physicians or pathologists in a minimum number of technical areas as defined to meet the needs of the department, to include: Transfusion Service, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology; to provide laboratory data for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Shift Supervisor and/or the Technical Section Supervisor and within established policies and procedures, the incumbent performs the following functions:

1. Essential Functions:

· Utilize professional judgment in interpretations of clinical lab results and in responding to unusual situations. Utilize judgment and discretion in considering sample integrity and acceptability, process calibration, reagent concentration and stability, quality control relationship to unknown results, evaluation of unexpected patient results and error identification.

· Perform a variety of clinical laboratory tests, including set up of supplies and equipment to analyze specimens (i.e. body fluids, tissue, sputum, etc.) according to written procedures. Forward unresolved problems to supervisor. Maintain the integrity of the specimens throughout the process.

· Adhere to established quality control policies and procedures in order to guarantee the reliability of data. Perform quality control procedures as required and maintain adequate control records to include problem log documentation, reporting any abnormal or unusual variances to supervisor and/or Medical Director as appropriate. Perform daily QC review.

· Coordinate quality assurance and participate in quality improvement activities.

· Document test results and report results to nursing units and/or physicians according to established procedure. Inform supervisor or designee of unusual or unexpected test results after verification and accessing validity of the original test results. Recognize critical and/or life threatening results and immediately telephone critical values to the nursing units and/or physicians.

· Check, calibrate and maintain equipment in working order, performing preventative maintenance at prescribed intervals and as appropriate. Troubleshoot technical and procedural problems, make repairs and utilize service “hot” line as needed; arrange service call as appropriate. Keep related records.

· Maintain all records and documentation, i.e. calibrations, temperatures, etc., needed to comply with CAP, Joint Commission and other accrediting agencies.

· Maintain technical proficiency in a minimum of two (2) of the four (4) technical areas on the day shift; or in four (4) of the technical areas on the evening and night shifts; OR if scheduled less than or equal to 8 hours per week, maintain technical proficiency in a minimum of one (1) of the four (4) technical areas on the day shift; or in two (2) of the technical areas on the evening and night shifts. Technical areas include: Transfusion Service, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology.

· Display courtesy and professionalism at all times while providing timely, helpful service to all patients, clients, visitors, physicians, and hospital personnel. Maintain a professional decorum within the work environment under all types of circumstances, demonstrating ability to remain calm in tense and/or emergency situations.

· Perform duties of charge technologist in the absence of the Supervisor as assigned.

· Act as technical resource to lab and all hospital employees; provide instruction on basic theory, technical skills and applications of test procedures.

· Ensure confidentiality of employee, legal, client/patient, budget and all company matters.

2. Secondary Functions:

· Perform phlebotomy duties and effectively communicate the procedure to the patient. Demonstrates competency in obtaining capillary or venous samples from both the inpatient and outpatient population served by the hospital.

· Perform phlebotomy for legal alcohol draws and testify in court as required.

· Perform specimen processing duties.

· Ensure adequate reagent supplies according to Laboratory and Section policies. Receive and store supplies per established procedure.

· Conduct tests on proficiency survey specimens and evaluate proficiency testing results.

· Review previous day’s results for clerical, analytical errors or unusual results, in the absence of the Section Supervisor, or as assigned.

· Assist Section Supervisor in the evaluation of new procedures, installation of new instrumentation, and training on new or modified instrumentation or equipment.

· Perform technical, procedural and administrative problem solving.

· Train and orient Medical Technologists and Medical Laboratory Technicians including students.

· Assist in the preparation and revision of procedures as directed by Supervisor or Laboratory Manager, utilizing the CLSI format.

· May assist Section Supervisor to prepare for Department and Laboratory inspections.

· Attend regularly scheduled departmental meetings and continuing educational programs; maintain current knowledge in the field.

· Attend mandatory in-service programs on Universal Precautions, Disaster Plan, Electrical & Fire Safety and Chemical Hygiene Plan/Hazardous Communications. Comply with all hospital and departmental safety practices.

· Follow all safety procedures and precautions as detailed in the Hospital Safety Manual, Chemical Hygiene Plan and Infection Control Policy to maintain safe environment for self and others. Report any possible safety hazards to supervisor.

· Participate in appropriate role in disasters, fire drills, fires and other emergency situations.

· Exercise care in the operation and use of equipment and reference materials. Perform routine cleaning and preventative maintenance to ensure continued functioning of equipment. Maintain work areas in a clean, safe and organized manner.

· Report to work consistently and promptly as scheduled. Provide proper advance notice of absence or tardiness. Work overtime as needed and required.

· Perform similar or related duties as assigned or directed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities listed or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements with or without the aid of mechanical devices to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

1. Physical requirements include the ability to raise objects from a lower to high position or moving objects horizontally from position to position; pick, pinch, type or otherwise work primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling; apply pressure to an object with the fingers and palm; perceive attributes of objectives such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips; sustain substantial movement of wrists, hands and/or fingers; extend hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction; bend the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine; stand for sustained periods of time; move about on feet to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.

2. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word. Essential functions include activities in which incumbent must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to patients, physicians, families and other employees accurately, loudly or quickly.

3. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.

4. Ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly. (Strength Factor: L-Light Work)

5. The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions that affect the skin or respiratory system, i.e. fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, poor ventilation, etc.

6. The worker is subject to hazards including a variety of physical conditions such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

7. Ability to wear safety equipment such as safety glasses, gloves, gown, lead apron, mask, etc.

8. Visual acuity sufficient for work which deals largely with visual inspection involving small anatomic or physiologic details as well as the whole patient and sufficient for preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal operation, extensive reading and visual inspection involving small parts/defects.

9. Requires the ability to plan and perform diversified duties requiring an extensive knowledge of a particular field and the use of a wide range of procedures. Involves the exercise of judgment in the analysis of facts and conditions regarding individual problems or transactions to determine what actions should be taken within the limits of standard practice.

10. Requires professional knowledge of medical technology principles, theory and methodology sufficient to perform clinical laboratory procedures.

11. Ability to endure periods of heavy workload or stress.

12. Ability to work with frequent interruptions and respond appropriately to unexpected situations.

13. Ability to accept constructive feedback and initiate appropriate actions to correct situations.

14. Ability to establish and maintain effective communications and positive working relationships with supervisory staff at all levels, co-workers, with other employees and the public.

WORK SCHEDULE:

· Requires weekend and holiday rotations and the ability to work to cover special functions or as the need arises.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

· Bachelor Degree from accredited four-year college or university.

Experience:

· Minimum of one year MT experience preferred.

Licensure/Certification:

· MLS (ASCP) CM or MT (ASCP) or equivalent preferred

· Or ASCP eligible and must obtain certification within one (1) year of employment.

· MLS (ASCP) CM MUST be valid and renewed upon expiration to retain employment.

Schedule: Part-time

Shift: Day