Kathryn Costa

*** *. ******* ****, ************, Illinois 60108 Home: 630-***-**** - Cell: 630-***-****

Email address: ad4ea7@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Background

High-performing Supervisor of a Core Lab with 40+ years of Healthcare experience in hospital and reference laboratories.

Skill Highlights

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Problem resolution

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Clinical experience

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Prioritizing/managing deadlines

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Diagnostic tools experience

•Medical laboratory procedures

•Customer service

Accomplishments

Clinical Services:

•Evaluation of new testing equipment

•Training staff with new procedures

Policy Development:

•Proficient in writing procedure manuals

•Coordinated training documentation for new instrumentation

Total Quality Management:

•Supported collection of quality data for monthly reports

•Evaluated daily turn-around times for specific clients

Quality Assurance

• Ensure and enforce compliance with CAP regulations for biennial accreditation

Professional Experience

Chemistry/Special Chemistry Supervisor

August 1981 to September 2002

Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center – Chicago, Illinois

Managed team of 20 medical technologist personnel in the Chemistry/Special Chemistry Lab. Performed lab tests during short staffing and communicated results to nursing units, emergency room and various hospitals within medical system. Oversaw implementation of new analyzer implementation plans and provided necessary education training for staff after off-site primary vendor training. Contributed substantially to successful department biennial CAP accreditation. Headed on-boarding process for new laboratory staff, including phlebotomy and respiratory therapy technologists for blood gas testing. Coordinated the review, revision and creation of Operational Policies within Chemistry/Special Chemistry Department.

Toxicology Supervisor

September 2002 to June 2006

Quest Diagnostics – Wood Dale, Illinois

Managed team of 25 medical technologists performing drugs of abuse testing on various analyzers, including GC mass spectrophotometers and lead testing on atomic absorption analyzers. Processed daily quality control reports for department performance. Responsible for patient specimen testing for routine testing and testing under strict

time constraints for transplant drug monitoring. Facilitated CAP survey completion and assisted with responses for any deficiencies that occurred. Contributed substantially to successful department CAP accreditation and participated in CAP inspection of one hospital in Chicago area. Coordinated the review, revision and creation of SOPs within the Toxicology Department.

Core Laboratory Supervisor

June 2006 to July 2014

ACL Laboratories – Rosemont, Illinois

Manage 40 technologists in the Chemistry, Immunology and Special Coagulation areas of the Core Lab. Main responsibilities include statistical review of quality control reports on a monthly basis, continuous monitoring of adherence to CAP defined regulations, annual budgetary decisions for each fiscal year and participation on various committees. Participated on committees for new computer system and was responsible for building and testing the 600+ chemistry tests that were performed.

Other responsibilities included annual performance reviews for each of my 22 technologists in the Core Lab, interviewing/hiring of new staff and any disciplinary occurrences (with Human Resources assistance). Worked with director of laboratory to bring in additional testing that was being sent to a reference lab, by investigating new testing platforms and determining the cost benefits for our business.

Chemistry/Immunology Supervisor

July 2014 to November 2015

Thorek Memorial Hospital – Chicago, Illinois

Manage 20 technologists across all three shifts for all testing aspects of the chemistry and immunology areas. Responsible for all new equipment brought in for testing by attending all off-site training. Trained all technologists for new platforms, as well as building new configurations for interfaces and all quality control aspects regarding the instrumentation. Wrote all procedure manuals and was responsible for all training of staff. Performed continuous monitoring of all CAP regulations with regards to the testing performed and participated on a team for a CAP inspection at another local hospital. Prepared laboratory for a CAP inspection prior to my retirement.

Other responsibilities included annual performance reviews for each of my 20 technologists, interviewing/hiring of new staff and any disciplinary occurrences (with Human Resources assistance). Worked with director of laboratory to bring in additional testing that was being sent to a reference lab, by investigating new testing platforms and determining the cost benefits for our business. Responsible for checking all stock of reagents, ordering them through Purchasing department, and putting all stock away once received.

Chemistry Coordinator

September 2018 to December 2020

Community First Medical Center

Managed 15 technologists for all three working shifts. Maintained all chemistry instruments and all quality control results. Brought new analytes into the lab for testing using our current chemistry platforms. Wrote procedures for new analytes and arranged training for all technologists.

Responsible for keeping supplies for all laboratory departments by purchasing them through hospital purchasing department. Met daily with the hospital COO regarding supply shortages and use of our supplies.

Part of the team to switch to a new reference lab for testing not done onsite. This team was responsible for putting new test codes and test names into the computer system, as well as testing the new tracking system to be able to see all results from the new lab as well as inputting all results into the computer for physicians to have access for their patients.

Involved in initial COVID 19 testing brought into the hospital for all emergency room patients. Used an outside reference lab for other COVID 19 testing and coordinated entering of patient results and worked closely with Medical Records to ensure timely availability of results needed for funeral homes and the medical examiner office.

Quality Specialist

August 2021 – January 2022

Doctor’s Data Inc.

Responsible for entering new reagent QC lot numbers and setpoints into Harvest or Sapphire program. Keeping track of expiration dates of quality control material and activating new lot numbers. All expired quality control material was performed by the Quality Department. Calculated mean, SD and Tea values to see if values for QC were within acceptable range.

Entered all information for significant reports of organisms to be reported to IDPH, Kane County or physicians.

Accepted all outside PT samples and distributed samples and paperwork. Also assisted with all procurement of AAP samples for analytes that did not have routine surveys.

Medical Technologist

January 2022 – December 2022

Advocate Aurora Good Shepherd Hospital

Medical Technologist working the third shift as a generalist. Trained in Chemistry, Coagulation, Hematology, Urinalysis, Microbiology, Blood Bank and PCR testing using Cepheid. Trained to run Siemens EXL Chemistry systems, Siemens Coagulation analyzers and Sysmex Hematology analyzers as well as Vision Blood Bank system for testing of specimens for crossmatching compatible units. One of two technologists that cover the laboratory on the night shift each night.

Medical Laboratory Scientist

October 2023 – present

PPG Laboratories

Medical Laboratory Scientist working the second/third shift. Performing all CBCs, urinalysis and general chemistry on the Beckman AU480.

Education and Training

Triton College 1981

River Grove, Illinois, USA

Medical Technology

Associate Degree

MT (AMT) - 1986 (Certification/License Number 46974)

MT certification obtained by passing state boards and have been a member for the past 33 years.

Affiliations

AACC - Member of AACC since 2006

ASCP member since 1981

MLT Certification/License Number 21711

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