Medical Lab Scientist III

Job Summary

The Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) provides laboratory services for the consumers of healthcare to include both LMC inpatients and outpatients. The MLS ensures excellent quality in laboratory testing and accurate forms of analysis that improve patient outcomes. The MLS performs both routine and specialty testing that provides fast, precise information for patient diagnosis and treatment. All responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the mission, vision, and strategic imperatives of Lexington Medical Center.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: Four-year diploma in Medical Laboratory Science, Biological Science or Chemistry from a national or international accredited educational institution. Transcript must include a minimum of 60 semester hours with 25 hours of coursework in clinical laboratory science, chemical and biological science required. Must include a clinical laboratory rotation in immunohematology, chemistry, hematology and microbiology.

Minimum Years of Experience: 3 years of Clinical Experience plus current ASCP BOC Specialty Certification as SBB, SC, SH, SM, SMB or SCYM

Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): For candidates without an ASCP specialty certification, 10 Years of supervisory experience can be substituted for 3 years of clinical laboratory experience and ASCP specialty certification.  Individual must be hired in the area of that specialty or for which they provided direct supervision of related testing.

Required Certifications/Licensure: Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) from the American Society of Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) or an equivalent state or governmental certification including:

•  National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) or
•  American Medical Technologies (AMT) or
•  American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry (AAB)
• National certification may be at the medical laboratory science (MLS) level or a categorical certification in a recognized discipline of clinical laboratory science (i.e., chemistry, hematology, blood bank, microbiology). With a categorical certification, the employee’s practice at LMC will be limited to the category or categories listed by the certifying board.

Essential Functions

• The MLS III performs the following:  
  •  Manual laboratory testing (no or little automation).  
  • Automated laboratory testing (requiring instrumentation to complete testing).     
  • Collection of specimens: May be required to perform venipunctures to include  capillary punctures for blood specimens from patients of various ages requiring    developmentally appropriate techniques.
• Process laboratory specimens related to assigned departments.
• Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor the performance of test procedures independently using manual and/or instrumental techniques.    
• Perform instrument calibration and verify data to meet manufacturer’s specifications, routine quality control, preventative maintenance, and verification of correct instrument operation.
• Recognize indicators of malfunction and performing corrective action.
• Perform trouble-shooting procedures on all assigned department equipment, communicate with service, and relay appropriate information to appropriate personnel. Document instances appropriately.
• Serve as a technical resource/go-to person performing as a key operator of a laboratory instrument; train employees on its operation, troubleshooting, and updates.
• Make independent decisions as necessary in the absence of the supervisor.
• Perform quality assurance activities such as process improvement analysis (PI/CQI) to enhance productivity, turn-around times, and overall service of the laboratory department.
• Review patient and instrument data for accuracy and maintain proper records such as for quality control reports.
• Recognize abnormal results, evaluate and correlate data with other test results/diagnosis; interpret appropriately and conduct follow-up action if required.
• Perform proper notification of abnormal results per policy.
• Achieve and maintain competency for waived, moderate and high complexity testing (checked semi-annually the first year of hire and annually thereafter) in all testing assigned.    
• Demonstrate knowledge of regulatory agencies (COLA, OSHA, CLIA, JCAHO) and assist with accreditation preparation and inspections. (First shift).    
• Adhere to safety policies and procedures as established by LMC; be a role model for other staff and make suggestions for to improve safety conditions.
• Provide patient care/support that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of the patient group served.
• Perform all assigned testing independently and successfully multi-task as necessary promote teamwork within the department.
• Evaluate and implement new test procedures/new instrument (first shift), recognize/review current procedures for needed updates or corrections (all shifts).
• Develop/revise laboratory procedures/manuals, reports, and other documents.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform additional assignments independently such as inventory of supplies, write or revise laboratory procedures/manuals, reports, and other documents.
• Review quality control documents for QC outliers and trends and take appropriate action, print and review of such documents as abnormal results, critical values, corrective reports, QA reports, and overdue logs/pending logstake appropriate corrective action to solve problems.
• Investigate areas for improvement and make recommendations; communicate appropriately with the supervisor.    
•     Perform management duties as assigned (all shifts), (second/third shifts includes DOS phone responsibilities.
• Train new employees/students on technical procedures and equipment and teach in a classroom setting to students or staff (lecture/continuing education).
•  Works with others (e.g. coworkers, nurses and physicians and other healthcare workers, laboratory and hospital administration, patients and families) in a teamwork approach that promotes/encourages each person’s contributions toward achieving optimal goals.
• Informs other personnel of circumstances that may affect the quality of testing and takes the responsibility to initiate appropriate follow-up.
•  Notifies appropriate personnel of critical test results or results that are deemed “alert” values.
• If interpretation or explanation of test results is sought, the MLS independently takes the responsibility that the appropriate information is given or referred to a supervisor or Pathologist.
• Courteous and accurate in all communications and follows LMC confidentiality policies.
• Demonstrates the ability to facilitate learning for coworkers, students, and other members of the health care team and community. This could include both formal and informal facilitation of learning.
• Maintains established continuing education requirements for national certification and for MLS LMC level requirements.
• Participates in the teaching of medical laboratory science students/new employees either in a clinical or a classroom setting.
• Possesses sensitivity to recognize, appreciate, and incorporate differences into the provision of care. Differences may include, but are limited to, cultural differences, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age and values.
• Demonstrates the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating procedures and methods of testing.
• Creates changes through research utilization and experiential learning.
• Recognizes problems and researches solutions to improve processes. This could include quality assurance projects or new methods of testing/instrument evaluation and institution.
• Demonstrates of clinical reasoning, which includes decision-making, critical thinking, and informed experiential knowledge and skill.
• Ensure Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals are discarded, stored, and managed with other compatible waste streams in containers that are properly labeled and closed prior to being shipped offsite for proper disposal.  Initial RCRA training is received within 6 months of the hire date and continuing with annual RCRA training.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.