Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS)

Job Title

Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist

Job Description

The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) in the Department of State maintains and promotes the health and well-being of the United States' diplomatic community, who represent a wide range of United States government agencies abroad. The Department assigns Foreign Service Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists (RMLS) to selected posts overseas. Many of these posts have significant health risks and local medical care that is inadequate by U.S. standards.

The RMLS performs a wide variety of tests and procedures in Parasitology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Immunology, Hematology, Blood Banking, and Urinalysis. Duties also include training laboratory and non-laboratory medical professionals, assessing local laboratories, and addressing food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.

All Medical Specialists working with the Bureau of Medical Services must provide services to all patients regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion.

RMLS duties may include, but are not limited to, the following at each regional post of responsibility:

Clinical

• Inspects, evaluates, and reports on the quality of local medical laboratory services, blood banks, and hospital laboratories at home and regional posts, in possibly hazardous and/or difficult-to-access environments.
• Develops and coordinates laboratory education programs, including but not limited to bloodborne pathogen training, safe food handlers training, and continuing medical education programs.
• Trains and supervises a diverse group of laboratory professionals who have varying degrees of expertise, education, and command of the English language.
• Serves as clinical and technical supervisor of regional laboratory personnel.
• Conducts competency assessments at home and regional posts.
• Performs and reports on medical and environmental laboratory tests.
• Performs phlebotomy on patients of all ages.
• Ensures patient confidentiality and records integrity.
• Addresses food safety, environmental, and water quality issues.
• Maintains credentials and continuing medical education.
• Trains health unit staff on specimen collection, processing, testing, and reporting.
• Conducts food safety and other instructional classes.
• Performs sanitation inspections.
• Maintains a ServSafe manager certification.

Diplomatic

• Collaborates with local laboratory directors and managers.

Administrative

• Manages the health unit laboratory operations.
• Oversees Quality Management programs.
• Updates and modifies Exposure Control Plans.
• Performs cost analyses to determine cost versus benefit when indicated to maintain fiscal responsibility.
• Mentors new RMLSs.
• Evaluates test methods.
• Submits statistical reports to the Bureau of Medical Services.
• Updates the medical capabilities database.

Emergency Preparedness

• Prepares laboratory testing information for the emergency preparedness programs.
• Assists with the post's pandemic medical response plans.

Regional Care Responsibilities

• Travels independently to regional constituent posts utilizing air carriers and transportation facilities that may be difficult to access.
• Arranges and maintains a regional travel schedule to respond to immediate and routine post needs.
• Maintains communication with regional health unit staff.
• Liaises with Regional Medical Managers.
• Maintains regular communication with the MED/LAB office in Washington, D.C.

An RMLS is considered essential personnel and is expected to be available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.