Medical Technologist Specialist

Job Title

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.

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 specialty departments.

Basic function and responsibility to assist senior technologists, laboratory supervisors, chief technologists or directors in a variety of duties or special projects as designated. Serve as expert and a resource for other Medical Technologists and for instrument troubleshooting. Assist in the preparation of special testing techniques and protocols and procedures. Perform all duties and responsibilities of a Medical Technologist.

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. Participate in ordering reagents and supplies for the laboratory.
• Assist lab leaders in development in technical procedures, protocols, and projects, as needed.
• Participate in QA and compliance program; assist leadership where needed (data collection/investigation, inspection proof, CAP checklist).
• Planning and participating in IT events (regression testing, LIS upgrades, new test builds, submitting and monitoring IT tickets).

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.
• Serve as a resource person for staff and assist in creating and performing competencies.
• Help build and develop continuing educational opportunities for staff, as needed.
• Provide support for software systems within the laboratory, such as middleware and environmental monitoring systems.

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

• Comply with 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.
• Assist in scheduling and evaluation of needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Duties and responsibilities

• Serve as a technical resource for hematology automation, sedimentation rate testing, instrumentation, procedures, quality control, and troubleshooting.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting support for hematology analyzers, sedimentation rate instrumentation, middleware, and laboratory information system interfaces.
• Monitor daily instrument performance, quality control trends, maintenance records, and workflow issues; identify problems and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Assist with the development, review, revision, and implementation of standard operating procedures, job aids, training materials, and competency assessment tools.
• Coordinate or assist with instrument validation, method verification, linearity studies, correlation studies, reference range verification, precision studies, carryover studies, and implementation of new assays or instrumentation.
• Review and evaluate quality control, calibration, proficiency testing, and patient result data to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Investigate testing discrepancies, instrument issues, specimen problems, quality control failures, proficiency testing concerns, and workflow interruptions; document findings and corrective actions.
• Assist with staff training and competency assessment for hematology automation, sedimentation rate testing, smear review criteria, maintenance procedures, and troubleshooting processes.
• Support compliance with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements, including CAP, CLIA, Joint Commission, OSHA, and institutional laboratory policies.
• Participate in quality assurance and process improvement activities, including monitoring turnaround times, specimen rejection trends, instrument downtime, repeat testing, and error reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate with supervisors, pathologists, technical specialists, vendors, IT staff, and laboratory leadership to resolve technical, operational, and workflow concerns.
• Assist with reagent, supply, control, calibrator, and consumable management, including inventory review, lot-to-lot comparisons, expiration monitoring, and documentation.
• Evaluate and communicate changes in procedures, instrumentation, reagent lots, quality control requirements, middleware rules, or reporting practices to appropriate staff.
• Provide guidance to staff regarding interpretation of analyzer flags, reflex testing criteria, slide review requirements, delta checks, critical values, and specimen acceptability.
• Assist with audit preparation and ongoing readiness activities by ensuring documentation, maintenance logs, quality control records, competency files, and procedure manuals are complete and current.
• Maintain current knowledge of hematology automation practices, regulatory standards, instrumentation updates, and laboratory best practices.

Supervision Received

• Administrative supervision is received from a Supervisor or Manager
• Functional supervision is received from a qualified MLS Specialist, Clinical Technologist Senior, Supervisor or Manager

Supervision Exercised

• Functional supervision is exercised over specimen processors, MLS, and other assigned staff.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in medical technology or an equivalent combination of education and demonstrated successful clinical experience demonstrated ability to effectively communicate medical terminology and technical procedures, demonstrate ability to identify and take appropriate actions with clinical results, and demonstrate effective organizational skills within a lab setting. Two years clinical experience.

Physical requirements This position requires infrequent standing/walking, as well as lifting, positioning, pushing, and/or transferring of patients.

Desired Qualifications

• 2 years of post-training experience in a relevant clinical laboratory for the duties described.
• Certification in working area.
• Ability to perform the duties of an MLS at a high level of expertise, and the ability to perform the assigned work without sacrificing on patient care.
• Time management skills and the ability to accomplish extra duties while completing patient work.
• One year of clinical training at an approved hospital and certification or registration by an appropriate health agency or certifying organization.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest