Basic Function and Responsibility
- To perform a variety of routine or specialized tests and procedures for use by physicians in diagnosis and treatment of patients in one or more areas of work, such as Clinical Core
- Laboratory, Transfusion Medicine, Histocompatibility, Flow Cytometry, Molecular Diagnostics, Cytogenetics, Point of Care, Microbiology, and other departments.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide Clerical/Administrative Support
- Answer phone calls, monitor call list, make critical value calls, report results and document calls, as needed.
- Scan documents (scan requisitions and worksheets); organize and file test reports and documents, file slides.
- Identify and correct incorrect orders and specimen issues, which include duplicate tests, missing or incorrect samples, missing information, and unacceptable specimens.
- Communicate effectively with lab staff, clinicians, and other customers to meet customer service expectations and maintains patient confidentiality.
- Manage inventory, unpack shipments, stock lab supplies, and reconcile invoices.
- Assist lab leaders in development in technical procedures, protocols, and projects, as needed.
Accessioning, Specimen Processing and Distribution
- Accession and process samples with accuracy which includes specimen receiving, centrifuging, aliquoting, and evaluating specimens for suitability of testing.
- Prioritize and accurately distribute patient samples within the laboratory consistent with quality assurance goals.
- Access and navigate the Pathology Document Control System, Hospital Information System (HIS), and Laboratory Information System (LIS) to accession patient specimens, requesting additional information from appropriate resources.
- Assist in Problem solving (duplicate tests, missing samples, incorrect samples, and missing information); call on unacceptable specimens (clotted, hemolyzed, wrong container etc.).
- Work with other laboratory personnel to process patient casework with optimal efficiency and accuracy (e.g. basic sample preparation and setup of assays or loading automation lines).
- Assist medical staff by attending procedures (bone marrows procedures, interoperative surgery), as required.
Laboratory Support / Maintain and Operate Instruments for Waived, Moderate and High Complexity Testing Instruments.
- Perform and document daily maintenance as specified in instrument procedures.
- Analyze patient samples as specified in the instrument procedures.
- Enter test results into laboratory databases.
- Ensure continuous operation by monitoring the status of reagents, parts, and supplies.
- Monitor error codes and perform troubleshooting. Document problems, action taken and outcomes in instrument logbooks.
- Perform general lab upkeep such as cleaning, removing trash, washing/sterilizing lab ware dishes, taking and recording temperatures, refrigerator and freezer maintenance, handling biohazard and chemical waste Assist with media and reagent preparation.
- Maintain work area in a well-stocked, clean condition.
Perform Testing for Waived, Moderate, and High Complexity Tests
- Perform and document quality control and proficiency testing for waived, moderate, and high complexity tests. Act on out-of-range quality control values.
- Perform waived, moderate, and high complexity testing.
- Analyze patient samples and report test results consistent with accuracy and quality assurance goals of the laboratory into laboratory databases.
- Interpret test results for waived, moderate, and high complexity tests.
Other Duties
- Meets departmental continuing education requirements.
- Provides instructions in laboratory technique, instrumentation, and application of procedures to students and new employees.
- Maintain competencies for all assigned sections.
- Other duties as assigned.
Professional Development
- Fulfill departmental continuing education requirement.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Regular duties include:
- Perform duties of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
- Identify problems with instrumentation, methodology, specimens, supplies, or results and act as outlined in predetermined protocols.
- Update procedure manuals and training materials to reflect current practices
- Serve on laboratory and inter-departmental committees as requested
- Initiate corrective action when required.
- Maintain a safe work area in a well-stocked, clean condition.