Medical Laboratory Tech

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general direction of the Section Supervisor, provides ancillary support for clinical activities by performance of waived and moderately complex clinical laboratory tests as defined under CLIA 88. May also perform phlebotomy or therapeutic procedures

Position: Medical Laboratory Tech

Department: Labs-Support Services

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES :

• Prioritizes STAT and routine samples.
• Ensures accurate specimen identification and specimen labeling consistent with section and departmental standard operating procedure.
• Ensures appropriateness of sample for requested testing, obtains approval for testing which deviates from standard operating procedure and follows up with notification to patient care unit and documentation in LIS.
• Ensures sample testing is performed within the defined time periods for each test type based on specimen viability as outlined in section specific policies and procedures.
• Initiates appropriate action and documents steps taken to resolve mislabeled/unlabeled or inappropriate specimens in a manner consistent with Departmental Policies and Procedures and with the Departmental Service Mission.
• Identifies labeling problems or discrepancies; informs other laboratory sections about patient identification or medical record number problems.
• Ensures that prepared samples are stored according to standard operating procedure (e.g. refrigerated, frozen, incubated).
• Ensures aliquotting and processing of specimens is performed within established time limits for each test.
• Accessions specimens according to standard operating procedure.
• Performs instrument and equipment maintenance as defined by each section's policy and procedures.
• Recognizes instrument, equipment or methodology problems and/or discrepancies and brings them, with documentation, to Assistant Supervisor or Supervisor's attention in a timely manner.
• Performs and assesses results of Quality Control activities according to Section Policy and Procedures.
• Recognizes technical and non-technical problems/discrepancies in laboratory operations and brings these problems/discrepancies to Assistant Supervisor or Supervisor's attention.
• Performs and interprets validity of results of analytic procedures according to Section Policy and Procedures.
• Maintains clear, concise, accurate and legible records of test performance.
• Provides proper documentation and records of all test procedures performed.
• Reviews patient results, recognizes problems and/or discrepancies, performs and documents all additional or confirmatory testing necessary to justify reporting of patient result and notifies Assistant Supervisor or Supervisor. Investigates, resolves to the extent possible and documents incidents of aberrant or inconsistent patient test results.
• Transcribes results/information with accuracy into LIS system.
• Appends appropriate coded comments as required by section standard operating procedures.
• Uses LIS to promote clarity and correct interpretation of laboratory results.
• Reviews entered LIS codes as required by section standard operating procedures for transcription accuracy prior to completing processing or reporting test results.
• Notifies appropriate person of all Critical Alert Values. Provides complete documentation of all Critical Alert Values in LIS and on work cards as required.
• Notifies appropriate person of all required call back of results. Provides complete documentation of all call backs in LIS and on work cards as required.
• Maintains proficiency through validation and retraining for all designated LIS functions as outlined in section specific policies and procedures.
• Provides proper documentation of receipt and implementation of reagents/lots/materials upon receipt in lab.
• Ensures adequate Blood inventories are maintained according to standard operating procedure for section consistent with level of training and experience (Blood Bank only).
• Ensures all work is completed and/or accounted for according to section policy.
• Assists other laboratory sections as needed when directed by supervisory staff members.
• Participates in Quality Advancement/Quality Improvement activities according to Departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs specimen collection procedures (when applicable) as outlined in the Lab Support Services Phlebotomy Procedures.
• Maintains initial and annual competency documentation as outlined in section policies and procedures; maintains age specific competency for all tests/procedures performed as required by regulatory agencies.
• Attends departmental continuing education classes during the year.
• Participates in 2 scientific or service related continuing education classes.
• Attends all scheduled staff meetings or, if unable, accepts responsibility for reading meeting minutes on work time.
• Supports education of Medical Technology students, Pathology residents, new staff and others through participation in teaching activities which may be didactic and/or "benchside".
• Supports technical training of departmental staff members, encompassing new employees, new procedures and cross training.
• Participates on all Sectional, Departmental or Hospital committees or task forces as needed.
• Communicates all-important information regarding the laboratory (i.e. inventory, testing status and instrument status) to fellow staff members.
• Answers the telephone according to departmental policy; responds to inquiries/requests.
• Works cooperatively with other laboratory staff members and takes initiative to determine where assistance is needed and renders assistance.
• Reports all incidents, safety hazards or accidents to appropriate personnel.
• Attends mandatory safety education sessions to keep informed of changes regarding safety issues.
• Respects patient and employee confidentiality.
• Keeps equipment and work area neat, orderly and well stocked; puts supplies away when received.
• Performs assignments with a minimum of direction and is available to help others.
• Maintains open communication with Supervisors and Medical Directors.
• Plans and prioritizes tasks and adjusts to variable workloads.
• Assesses the inventory on a weekly basis in assigned work area and notifies Supervisor of supply needs.
• Utilizes hospital's Values as the basis for decision-making and to facilitate the division's hospital mission.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned or as needed.

PHLEBOTOMY ADDENDUM:

• Prepares the workstation and equips the phlebotomy tray in advance with all essential supplies.
• Greets the patient, explains the procedure and reassures the patient.
• Verifies the patient identification according department policies and procedures.
• Performs venipuncture according to National Certifying Agency for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) (e.g. proper site preparation, proper venipuncture technique and proper care for the venipuncture site.)
• Properly performs the labeling of specimens in accordance with Laboratory Support Services procedures.
• Delivers the specimen to the appropriate laboratory section within established time frame.
• Follows special handling instructions for all relevant specimens according to departmental policy and procedures.
• Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided.
• Utilizes hospital's Values as the basis for decision-making and to facilitate the division's hospital mission.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.

BLOOD BANK DONOR ROOM ADDENDUM (AS ASSIGNED)

• Under the general guidance of the Blood Bank Supervisor, Assistant Supervisor and the Medical Director, the interviewer/phlebotomies (trained Laboratory Support Technician; Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Technician) interacts with donors to insure that: the Blood Bank draws the safest possible product for transfusion; the donor will not be harmed by phlebotomy; and therapeutic procedures on patients are drawn safely.
• Registers all donors. Checks all records for prior donations and deferrals. Checks permanent deferral listing. Assures that patients are registered with a hospital Medical Record Number.
• Solicits an accurate medical history. Follows through on all unexpected answers and documents responses. Orally asks questions concerning high-risk behaviors. Obtains Blood Bank Physician input if necessary.
• Obtains vital signs. (Pulse, blood pressure, temperature).
• Obtains samples by fingerstick for hemoglobin or hematocrit analysis. Performs microhematocrit.
• Provides AIDS educational information to all prospective donors.
• Inspects donor's antecubital areas for venipuncture.
• Interprets present/post medical history to determine donor eligibility. Confers with Blood Bank physician on autologous and therapeutic procedures.
• Labels all paperwork, donor bags and pilot tubes.
• Performs proscribed scrub. Performs venipuncture.
• Performs blood collection for transfusable products. Prepares components from whole blood.
• Performs therapeutic phlebotomy on patients.
• Assesses and manages adverse donor reactions. Differentiates donor reactions to determined necessity of medical assistance. Performs CPR if necessary.
• Performs post donation care for both patients and donors. Provides instruction inpost donation and phlebotomy care.
• Provides refreshments.
• Instructs donors in post donation Confidential Unit Exclusion.
• Treats donors and patients with respect. Respects donor/patient confidentiality in person and in record keeping.
• Maintains the donor and patient files. Performs other clerical duties regarding donors as required.
• Performs and documents Quality Control on all donor/patient phlebotomy equipment and emergency supplies. Maintains stock supplies.

APPENDIX -A TESTS OF MODERATE COMPLEXITY

BACTERIOLOGY

• Primary culture inoculation
• Urine culture and colony count kits
• Microscopic evaluation of direct wet mount preparations
• Isolation and identification (presumptive and/or confirmatory)
• of aerobic bacteria from throat, urine, cervical or urethral
• specimens
• Gram stain
• Darkfield examination for Treponema pallidum
• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Manual screening devices for bacteriuria with limited steps and
• with limited sample or reagent preparation
• Automated procedures that do not require operator intervention
• during the analytic process

MYCOBACTERIOLOGY

• Direct acid fast smear

MYCOLOGY

• Primary culture inoculation
• Isolation of yeast with identification limited to Candida Albicans
• (excluding semi-automated and semi-quantitative procedures)
• Microscopic evaluation of direct wet mount preparations
• Microscopic evaluation of KOH preparations
• Tests using selective media for the presence or absence of dermatophytes
• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Automated mycology procedures that do not require operator
• intervention during the analytic process

PARASITOLOGY

• Microscopic evaluation of pinworm preparations
• Microscopic evaluation of direct wet mount preparations for the
• presence or absence of parasites
• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Culture devices indicating the presence or absence of
• Trichomonas vaginalis

VIROLOGY

• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Automated procedures that do not require operator intervention
• during the analytic process

IMMUNOLOGY

• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Automated procedures that do not require operator intervention
• during the analytic process
• Darkfield examination for Treponema pallidum

CHEMISTRY

• Manual procedures with limited steps and with limited sample or
• reagent preparation
• Automated procedures that do not require operator intervention
• during the analytic process
• Automated blood gas analyses that do not require operator
• intervention during the analytic process
• Whole blood measurements using test stripmeters (excluding
• glucose monitoring devices of cleared by the FDA specilically
• for home use)
• Osmolality measurements

URINALYSIS

• Microscopic analysis of urinary sediment
• Automated urinalysis procedures that do not require operator
• intervention during the analytic process

HEMATOLOGY

• Automated hematology procedures without differentials that do
• not require operator intervention during the analytic process
• Automated hematology procedures with differentials requiring
• no operator intervention during the analytic process and no
• interpretation of a histogram or scattergram
• Automated coagulation procedures that do not require operator
• intervention during the analytic process
• Manual white blood cells differentials without identification of
• atypical cells
• Manual hematology or coagulation procedures with limited steps and
• with limited sample or reagent preparation

IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY

• Manual or semi-automated procedures with limited steps and with
• limited sample or reagent preparation
• Automated procedures that do not require operator intervention
• during the analytic process

OTHER

• Semen analysis for the presence or absence of sperm
• Occult blood on body fluids
• Crystal analysis on joints fluid
• Viscosity

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Requires an Associates degree from an accredited university or college in Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science or an Associate's degree in an applied science (Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry) with sufficient coursework as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (CLIA 88).

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Preferred: Certification by American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or equivalent agency as a Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, or specialty certification.

* Equivalent agency is defined as an agency that requires a degree in science from an accredited college or university with successful completion of an examination for certification. Such agencies include but are not limited to ASCP, NCA, American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), Health Education and Welfare (HEW), and American Society of Microbiologists (AMT).

EXPERIENCE:

0 -1 years experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Requires:

• Knowledge of clinical tests and standards necessary to perform moderately complex tests as defined under CLIA 88 and ability to accurately report results.
• Analytic abilities to perform moderately complex testing, to perform limited instrument calibrations, calculations, etc.
• Ability to maintain compliance with all regulatory agency (e.g. JCAHO, CAP, FDA, AABB) requirements.
• Manual/visual dexterity necessary to prepare specimens, prepare solutions, screen specimens and operate a computer software system.
• Requires interpersonal and English verbal and written language skills sufficient to exchange information with physicians, interact with other technologists and so forth.
• Ability to perform venipuncture techniques.

Note: If the MLT has been performing high complexity testing at Boston Medical Center or one of its antecedent institutions prior to 7/1/96, such individuals may continue to perform high complexity testing with accompanying supervisory review within 24 hours. Such MLTs may not perform new high complexity methodologies and procedures not previously performed. As regulatory guidelines are updated, assigned duties and responsibilities will be modified to assure regulatory compliance.

LABBMC

Compensation Range:
$26.78- $35.34
This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, and licensure/certifications directly related to position requirements. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), contract increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, earned time cash out, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family wellbeing.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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