Quality Assurance Manager

Christine A. LaQuaglia, MBA, CLS, BSMT(ASCP)

***** ******* ***, ****** ******, CA

*****, *: 949-916- 5813, **************@*******.***

PROFILE SUMMARY

Seasoned Laboratory Director with 25+ years in the Medical Laboratory field

including, 7+ years in

supervision and management, and an MBA.

Targeted experience in clinical laboratory Quality Assurance Management,

employing

Six Sigma principles and techniques of lean operations and process

improvement.

Excellent interpersonal leadership skills, and superior written and

verbal communication skills.

Passionate customer focus, (staff, physicians, nurses, vendors and

clients),

paramount to cultivating successful customer relationships, a collaborative

team environment

and a highly effective, robust Outreach Services Program.

Specific Experiences, Qualifications and Skills:

. Manage the daily operations of the Main Lab and Outreach Patient

Service Centers, ensuring adequate staffing at all outreach collection

sites, including monitoring patient wait times and satisfaction.

. Respond immediately to, and assist in the correction of client and

patient issues or concerns.

. Serve as a resource to the Main Lab technical staff in problem solving

activities and as a resource/liason regarding problems related to

outreach specimen collection, processing, reporting, and courier

activities.

. Serve as a liaison between the outreach staff and the laboratory

billing department ensuring that the collection and entering of

patient information follows established procedures/standards.

. Manage cost effective ordering of supplies and consumables needed for

the operation of the Main Lab and Patient Service Centers, and the

establishment of the annual operating budget.

. Manage the cultivation and establishment of new clients.

. Perform leadership management functions in support of departmental and

hospital goals.

. Keep current on changing technological, economical and regulatory

environments.

. Evaluate new procedures, technology, and safety devices to maintain

state of the art laboratory performance and capability.

. Monitor opportunities for increased efficiency and cost containment.

. Collaboratively develop and implement technical orientation programs

for new staff, and coordinate continuing education to ensure quality

staff development.

. Prepare work schedules for the Main Lab and Patient Service Centers to

ensure adequate staffing, as well as manage all payroll functions.

. Ensure all standard operating procedures and practices adhere to

federal and regulatory agency standards (CLIA, CAP, OSHA JCAHO).

. Manage the collection of quality assurance data, and establishment of

metrics for the identification of opportunities for improvement.

. Customer Service - Establish, maintain, and improve strong positive

relationships with laboratory department staff, physicians, nurses,

vendors, clients, and other Hospital staff, as well as Outreach

clients, staff, physicians and the Public.

. Program Management - Provide strategic direction of laboratory

services for both inpatient and outpatient populations.

. Maintain accurate statistical data in keeping with the needs of the

hospital, clinical laboratories, and requirements of outside

regulatory agencies (CLIA, CAP, OSHA JCAHO).

. Participate in meetings with the Hospital Management Team and conduct

regular communication meetings with all staff in both the Main Lab and

Outreach Patient Service Centers.

. Solid experience with the training and implementation of various LIS

systems, including Sunquest, Cerner and Meditech.

. Monitor automated time keeping system and attendance records.

. Highly effective working as a cooperative team member, as well as

independently

. Superior diplomatic and discretionary skills.

. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

. Strong organizational and project management skills.

. Highly sensitive to cultural diversity, and strong advocate for the

dignity and respect of all.

. Public speaking and facilitation skills.

. Experience preparing written reports and making presentations.

Professional EXPERIENCE

PLUS Diagnostics Irvine, CA

Molecular Oncology Reference Laboratory

Manager of Quality/Laboratory Quality Program Manager

12/2011 - 07/2012

Due to the slow economy, the company downsized and

i was laid off in july, 2012.

Brotman Medical CeNTER

Los Angeles, CA

420-Bed Hospital Serving Culver City and Los Angeles

INTERM Director of Laboratory Services 10/2011 -

12/2011

10/2008 - 1/2011

Served as the primary caregiver for a critically ill parent who resides on

the East Coast.

CHAPMAN MEDICAL CENTER Orange, CA

250-Bed Hospital Serving Central Orange County

Director of Laboratory Services 1/2008 -

10/2008

Accomplishments:

Formed a collaborative association with Nurse Directors in resolving point

of care billing issues

Recovered significant revenue for the laboratory in resolving point of care

billing issues.

Increased lab revenues by taking over the Charge Master, which had not been

kept current.

ONCOTECH, INC. Tustin, CA

Reference Lab Specializing in Extreme Drug Resistance Testing

Clinical Quality Assurance Manager 6/2006 -

11/2007

Accomplishments:

Restructured the Quality Assurance department and cultivated lab managers'

confidence in

the credibility of the leadership in this area.

Formed a cohesive and collaborative team of lab leaders in addressing and

resolving laboratory

quality assurance issues. The team also worked together to address each of

the CAP standards

in preparing for the upcoming accreditation inspection.

Brought the laboratory through a very successful CAP accreditation

inspection after being in

the QA Manager position for only 4 months.

SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL Orange, CA

500-Bed Hospital Affiliated With Children's Hospital of Orange County

Division Supervisor 4/2005 - 6/2006

Accomplishments:

. Hired as a change agent, restored staff's confidence in department

leadership.

. Raised morale by keeping staff informed, engaged, and including them

in the resolution of issues that affected lab operations.

. With the staff's renewed confidence, they learned to work together as

a team, helping and supporting each other, which ultimately resulted

in the delivery of improved quality of patient care.

. Increased scores on the annual Employee Satisfaction survey for the

Hematology Division.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS San Juan Capistrano, CA

Nationwide Reference Lab - Industry Leader in Clinical Laboratory Services

Customer Operations Technical Specialist and Childcare Specialist 8/1999

- 4/2005

Accomplishments:

Post Six Sigma training and MBA, was promoted to the Quality Assurance

department in the Lab Services area (Specimen Receiving area) of the

campus.

Worked on several Six Sigma projects, organizing meetings with

representatives from the 13 labs on campus to improve the Cycle time of TNP

specimens (test not performed); responsible for writing SOP's, training,

and competency testing. TNP Cycle time was improved by 53%, for which I

received an Outstanding Performance Recognition.

METHODIST HOSPITAL Sacramento, CA

200-Bed Hospital Affiliated With Dignity Health System

Medical Technologist 1998 - 1999

LEESBURG REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Leesburg, FL

320-Bed Hospital Serving Central Florida

Senior Medical Technologist 1993 - 1997

CITRUS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Inverness, FL

200-Bed Hospital Serving Citrus and Surrounding Counties

Chief Technologist Clinical Laboratory 1993 - 1996

MCLEAN HOSPITAL Belmont, MA

350-Bed Psychiatric Hospital Affiliated With Massachusetts General Hospital

Laboratory Supervisor 1990 - 1993

DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE Boston, MA

Comprehensive Cancer Center Affiliated With Harvard Medical School

Laboratory Supervisor Evening Operations 1988 - 1990

LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL Burlington, MA

320-Bed Physician-Led Teaching Hospital of Tufts University School of

Medicine

Senior Medical Technologist STAT Laboratory 1980 - 1988

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION /LICENSES/AFFILIATIONS

Master of Arts in Business Administration (MBA), University of Phoenix,

Fountain Valley, CA

Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, Framingham State College,

Framingham, MA

Major: Medical Technology Minor: Chemistry

National Medical Technology Certification - - American Society of Clinical

Pathology

Clinical Laboratory Scientist License - State of California

Clinical Laboratory Management Association, Member

California Association for Medical Laboratory Technology, Member

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