Theresa Garcia

**** ********** **** **, ********** IL 60586

H: 815-***-**** C: 815-***-****

ac0hxr@r.postjobfree.com

Objective

Medical Technologist (ASCP) position looking for a unique growth opportunity in laboratory. Have 20+ years of clinical laboratory experience with specialty focus in Hematology, Blood Bank & Microbiology (plate reading), procedure implementation, Quality Assurance, Auditing and Quality Control. I am also bilingual, fluency in Spanish.

Professional Experience

Ingalls Memorial Hospital - part of University of Chicago Medicine, Harvey, IL April 2017- Present

Medial Technologist (registry)

Operation in Hematology and Urinalysis departments. Operation on Sysmex hematology systems, Stago Coagulation instrumentation, and Sysmex/Siemens AuWi Urinalysis system. Performance of manual differentials, special hematology and body fluids. Heartland Blood Centers, Aurora IL April 2016-December 2016 Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager

Under the direction of the Quality Director, support the blood center’s ability to provide safe, quality products and services by supporting the overall Quality Management System and quality assurance program for the Blood Center.

• Implementation of Roche IND Zika virus study at Heartland Blood Center. Worked in conjunction with other laboratories implementing IND study.

• Review and approve standard operating procedures, validation plans and results, corrective action plans associated with audits and events, and other required documents for compliance as required.

• Identifies emerging events in blood center operational departments, and participates in assessment of product, donor, patient, regulatory risk and/or customer impact.

• Communicates applicable regulatory and accreditation changes to departments (i.e. federal register notices, guidance documents, etc.).

• Assists operations with review of proposed changes in methods, manufacturing, or instrumentation.

• Develops, compiles, and submits regulatory submissions as required.

• Assists with external inspections as assigned, and facilitates optimal communication between the department and the inspector/assessors. Ex: FDA, CLIA, AABB, IDPH

• Review, analyze, approve, and monitor events logged in event management system, including adequacy of investigation, quality of documentation, and appropriateness of corrective and preventative actions.

• Evaluates current processes to Identify trends and potential problems proactively before products or patients are affected. Work with departments to effectively avoid/eliminate potential problems.

• Conduct problem surveillance (event reports, audit deficiencies, customer complaints, supplier recalls, etc. Work with departments to effectively resolve problems.

• Perform review of nonconforming products. Participate in decisions to determine blood and component suitability for use, distribution, or recall.

• Perform audits of operational departments, serve as lead auditor, and prepare final report of audit outcome. Monitors completion of corrective actions.

• Supports organizational and department projects from a regulatory and quality perspective, and acts as a resource for regulatory matters.

• Provides critical feedback directly to departments regarding their state of compliance.

• Ensures that departments comply with Quality Management System.

• Assists in the development and implementation of training new employees provided by Quality.

University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital Campus, New Lenox IL Aug 2015-Feb 2016

Medical Technologist.

Operation in cancer stat lab, phlebotomy, run stat testing, coordinate labs with nursing oncology staff and physicians. Order specialized laboratory testing, send out reference testing. Study reference patients are closely followed and worked closely with clinical research associate. Used as a reference to oncology staff in explanation of laboratory testing. Registry position. Morris Hospital, Morris IL Oct 1998-Nov 2015

Medical Technologist

Areas included Hematology, Urinalysis, Chemistry, Blood Gases, Blood Banking, Specimen Processing, speciality in Microbiology and Blood Bank

• Lead Blood Bank Technologist to approve Gel antibody panels, work closely with Heartland Blood Center, Parallel testing, write procedures, run QC, QA, stock inventory control

• Senior Technologist in Microbiology for past 17 years. Plate reading, Instrumentation Beckman Coulter MicroscanWalkaway system, BD Bactec Blood Culture System, BioMerieux, Cepheid PCR testing, BD Veritor testing for RSV, FLU & STREP A, plate reading, writing procedures in Microbiology.

• Lead technologist in charge of College of American Pathology (CAP) Inspection of Hematology in Laboratory.

• External Audit CAP Inspections in outside facilities.

• Staff scheduling of technologists, and support staff of over 50 employees

• Educator for MT and MLT students in cooperation with university and junior college programs.

• Maintain and set up new instrumentation in laboratory including procedure writing, parallel testing, quality control, ordering, budgeting, technologist and support staff training, etc.

• Perform preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment

• Maintain and write quality control procedures and input data in computer on instrumentation according to lab protocol.

• Active participant in process improvement committee.

• Perform and process laboratory samples in an accurate and timely test cost-efficient manner, including high specialty testing according to lab protocol.

• Reference lab samples to Mayo Medical Lab, process and order.

• Reference lead technologist in blood banking for specialty blood banking problems. Review charges, monthly quality control, review work, antibody panels, daily logs, etc.

• Knowledge of biological safety, PPE, Material Safety Data Sheets

• Meditech LIS Computer system.

• Part of hospital I-Share procedure maintenance committee, upload all of laboratory’s physical procedures into a computer infrastructure system.

• Effective oral & written communication skills.

• Lead tech to support staff, and various departments within the hospital.

• Comply with the Clinical Laboratory Information Act (CLIA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Joint Commission and other applicable Federal, state and local regulations Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet IL June 1995-Oct 1998 Medical Technologist

Generalist in areas of Hematology, Chemistry, Specimen Processing and Phlebotomy. Emphasis in microbiology included plate reading, processing, TB cultures, fungal cultures, Vitek and send-outs. Sunquest LIS Computer system.

Edward Hospital, Naperville IL 2000-2004

Medical Technologist

Hematologist- General Lab. PRN position.

Education

Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL 8/1992-5/1995 Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science 1995 Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 1990-1992 General Studies Certification

• Medical Technologist certified by ASCP, American Society for Clinical Pathology 1995 Language

Spanish

Read, write, speak fluent

Volunteer

*Have volunteered and have served as guest speaker at many fundraising events for the following organizations. I also serve as a Make A Wish, wish grantor. Participate in many fundraising events, galas, etc. Make A Wish Foundation, Leukemia Research Foundation, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, Operation North Pole

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