Medical Lab Scientist

Microbiology
Full Time
PM Shift
1300-2130

Lexington Health is a comprehensive network of care that includes six community medical and urgent care centers, nearly 80 physician practices, more than 9,000 health care professionals and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare and was first in the state to achieve Magnet with Distinction status for excellence in nursing care. Consistently ranked as best in the Columbia Metro area by U.S. News & World Report, Lexington Health delivers more than 4,000 babies each year, performs more than 34,000 surgeries annually and is the region's third largest employer.

Lexington Health also includes an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence, the state's first HeartCARE Center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, and an Alzheimer's care center. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies, as well as an informatics fellowship.

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: Bachelor's Degree from a national or international accredited educational institution.
Minimum Years of Experience: None
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): Candidates with current active Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) will be considered in lieu of Bachelor's Degree.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Actively hold Medical Laboratory Scientist (MT/MLS) certification by 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 will be limited to the category or categories listed by the certifying board;
Candidates without active MT/MLS certification that are registry eligible may be considered but must obtain certification within one year of hire. Candidates hired as registry eligible that fail to obtain certification within one year must have MT/MLS certification before reapplying.
Required Training: None

Essential Functions

• The MLS performs the following:
  a. Manual laboratory testing (no or little automation).
  b. Automated laboratory testing (requiring instrumentation to complete testing).
  c. 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.
  The Medical Laboratory Scientist performs laboratory testing according to laboratory accreditation requirements and LMC Laboratory established procedures/policies. The MLS exhibits the knowledge and expertise in the following job duties:
  a. Process laboratory specimens related to assigned departments.
  b. Select, perform, evaluating, and monitoring the performance of test procedures independently using manual and/or instrumental techniques.
  c. Perform instrument calibration and verify data to meet manufacturer's specifications; perform routine quality control, preventative maintenance, and verification of correct instrument operation; recognize indicators of malfunction and perform corrective action.
  d. Perform trouble-shooting procedures on all assigned department equipment, communicate with service, and relay appropriate information to appropriate personnel; document appropriately.
  e. Review patient and instrument data for accuracy and maintain proper records (i.e., quality control reports).
  f. Recognize abnormal results, evaluate and correlate data with other test results/diagnosis; interpret appropriately and conduct follow-up action if required; seek appropriate assistance with problems.
  g. Perform proper notification of abnormal results per policy.
  h. 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.
  i. Adhere to safety policies and procedures as established by LMC.
  j. Provide patient care/support that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of the patient group served.
  k. Perform all assigned testing independently and successfully multi-task as necessary; promote teamwork within the department.
  l. Perform additional assignments independently such as inventory of supplies, write or revise laboratory procedures/manuals, reports, and other documents.
  m. Review quality control documents for QC outliers and trends and take appropriate action; print and review such documents as abnormal results, critical values, overdue logs/pending logs and communicate appropriately.
  n. Train new employees/students on technical procedures and equipment as assigned

Duties & Responsibilities

• 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 in a clinical 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.
• 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.

We are committed to offering quality, cost-effective benefits choices for our benefit eligible employees and their families:

• Day ONE medical, dental and life insurance benefits
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Employees are eligible for enrollment into the 403(b) match plan day one. LHI matches dollar for dollar up to 6%.
• Employer paid life insurance - equal to 1x salary
• Employee may elect supplemental life insurance with low cost premiums up to 3x salary
• Adoption assistance
• LHI provides its full-time employees employer paid short-term disability and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of eligible employment
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan forgiveness

Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of Lexington Health to provide equal opportunity of employment for all individuals, and to remain compliant with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Lexington Health strives to provide a discrimination-free environment, and to recruit, select, on-board, and employ all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including but not limited to, lactation. Lexington Health endeavors to upgrade and promote employees from within the hospital where possible and consistent with the employee's desires and abilities and the hospital's needs.