Medical Laboratory Scientist 3 - Quality Officer

Job Description

Location: Chicago, IL

Hospital: RUSH University Medical Center

Department: RML Chemistry

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (7:00:00 AM - 3:30:00 PM)

Summary:

This position is responsible for performing all assigned laboratory testing and reporting for the testing area. This position requires teamwork to achieve common goals and meet deadlines to provide quality care to clients and patients. Demonstrates proficiency in identifying and resolving process issues that affect the laboratory's ability to perform laboratory testing. Serves as an expert within the assigned field of responsibility. Instructs students, residents, and new employees. Evaluates their performance within established deadlines. Participates in presenting case studies or in-services. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures. Must adhere to the Rush code of Conduct and Rush ICARE values: Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, executing these values with compassion.

Other information:

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree in relevant science required, Master of Science degree in relevant discipline preferred.

Certification from nationally recognized certifying agency required. Some laboratory disciplines may require more stringent certification criteria.

Acceptable credentials (can vary depending on the laboratory section):

• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) via the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

• Medical Technologist (MT) via the American Medical Technologists (AMT)

• Blood Bank (BB) via the ASCP

• Chemistry (C) via the ASCP

• Cytogenetics (CG) via the ASCP

• Cytotechnologist (CT) via the ASCP

• Hematology (H) via the ASCP

• Microbiology (M) via the ASCP

• Molecular Biology (MB) via the ASCP

• Specialist in Cytometry (SCYM) via the ASCP

Experience: Minimum of five years of laboratory-related experience required.

Affective behavior: Interacts effectively and respectfully with everyone encountered at the medical center.

REPORTS TO

Laboratory Supervisor or Designee

WORKING CONDITIONS

Able to work in fast pace, often stressful, computerized environment. Able to lift 20 lbs and perform repetitive motions. Works in laboratory with exposure to potentially infectious and hazardous materials.

CLIA QUALIFICATION FOR TESTING

Employees in this job classification are qualified to perform moderate and high complexity testing. Employees' education and/or laboratory experience meet the requirements delineated in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1996.

Responsibilities:

Administrative and Advanced Technical Duties:

• Demonstrates proficiency in all duties as defined in the role of Medical Technologist II.

• Serves as an expert within the assigned field of responsibility.

• Instructs students, residents, and new employees. Evaluates their performance within established deadlines.

• Participates in presenting case studies or in-services.

• Recognizes QC problems, shifts, drifts, or discrepancies, determines root cause and can resolve. Notifies appropriate supervisor or designee regarding QC problems or discrepancies according to the established procedure. Easily determines when escalation is needed.

• Required to oversee and maintain a clean, clutter free and well-organized area of responsibility.

• Required to prepare and present one inter-laboratory continuing education presentation per year.

• Participates in, prepares, and presents quality improvement initiatives accomplished in the laboratory.

Will be responsible for any combination of the following:

• Inventory management

• Key facilitator for an instrument or workflow process

• Quality or Safety Officer

• Mentoring and training MT1 and MT2

• Assist in inspection preparation.

Job Components

Performs Laboratory Testing

Utilizes required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as defined by the lab area. Labels and processes specimens properly. Performs all laboratory procedures efficiently and effectively and serves as a technical expert for other laboratory staff. Ensures all testing is performed following Rush approved Policies and Procedures.

Quality Control and Preventative Maintenance

Performs required quality control (QC) procedures and preventative maintenance, including corrective action and documentation, for all procedures and instrumentation. Recognizes QC problems, shifts, drifts, or discrepancies, determines root cause and can resolve. Notifies appropriate supervisor or designee regarding QC problems or discrepancies according to the established procedure. Easily determines when escalation is needed.

Troubleshooting

Performs basic and advanced troubleshooting of equipment and processes with minimal assistance, documents action and notifies appropriate personnel, for example, supervisors, of problems all the time. Demonstrates troubleshooting proficiency and therefore rarely needs to seek additional help.

Organization of Work Area

Keeps the work area neat, clean, organized, and always stocked. Disinfects area at the beginning and end of each shift. Required to oversee and maintain a clean, clutter free and well-organized area of responsibility.

Specimen Acceptability

Accepts no inappropriate specimens. Notifies appropriate person of specimens that must be drawn or collected again and documents the notification.

Turnaround Time Expectations

Meets turnaround time expectations by prioritizing and organizing the workload for the shift. Monitors the pending list periodically to ensure turnaround time of all samples.

Time Management

Utilizes time effectively and seeks out additional job duties when shift tasks are complete. Completes work without incurring overtime. Assists fellow workers to finish shift tasks. Adheres to the defined allotted time for breaks and lunch.

Continuing Education

Required to obtain and document 12 hours of laboratory continuing education per year. Required to prepare and present a minimum of 15 minutes of continuing education within the department. Required to prepare and present one inter-laboratory continuing education presentation per year. Prepares and presents quality improvement initiatives accomplished in the laboratory.

Special Projects

Accepts and/or volunteers for method evaluations and new procedure development or other special projects and completes them within an agreed upon time frame. Participates in procedure implementation and training of new staff and students. Required to identify, participate, and lead in process improvement projects.

Tech-in-Charge

Required to perform the duties of the tech-in- charge for specified periods of time. Oversee operations according to departmental guidelines. Understands when to defer issues to appropriate personnel, for example a supervisor or director, and does so.

Report Reviewing and Results Reporting

Reviews lab results as required and takes appropriate action before verification and release. Recognizes and calls critical results within defined time frames. Reviews paper generated results and transcribes accurately into the Lab Information System. Review of others' results.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Understands quality systems and processes and makes data driven decisions with strong analytical skills

Works closely supervisors and managers to construct data formats and presentations and helps develop the ab QM system

Implements changes that will enhance the quality process of the lab

Helps develop, edit and write SOPs to ensure compliance

Must be knowledgeable about CAP guidelines and standards

Creates and maintains a monitoring structure for CAP checklist items

Extrapolate quality data and host quarterly meetings to present metric data

Help develop a comprehensive staff training and competency program

Assist with on-boarding of new employees, monitors training pathways, checklist and competency.

Maintains and tracks all Events/Non-Conformity forms according to CAP guidelines.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Position Medical Laboratory Scientist 3 - Quality Officer

Location US:IL:Chicago

Req ID 8018