Medical Technologist I - 40 hours (Day Shift)

Medical Technologist I

Under the general direction of the Technical Supervisor, provides ancillary support for clinical activities by performance and appropriate interpretation of moderate and high complexity clinical laboratory tests as defined under CLIA '88.

Department: Labs-Hematology

Schedule: 40 hours (Day Shift)

Essential Responsibilities / Duties:

• After specialized training and required experience, performs moderate and high complexity tests and interprets them.
• Acts as a resource and interprets tests for laboratory users in a manner consistent with level of training and knowledge.
• Reviews testing and/or procedures performed by other staff to maintain compliance with regulatory agencies as required when deemed qualified to do so by the section supervisor.
• 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 departmental and 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.
• Informs/alerts other laboratory sections about patient identification or medical record number problems, and special specimen requirements.
• 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 for all required tests according to standard operating procedure as needed.
• 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 Manager's attention in a timely manner. In management absence, notifies coworkers of relevant equipment issues, and includes the information in shift change hand-off.
• Performs QC procedures and assesses Quality Control data 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 Manager's attention. In management absence, notifies coworkers of relevant technical issues, and includes information in shift change hand-off.
• Performs analytic testing and assesses the validity of their results according to departmental and section policy and procedures.
• Maintains and provides clear, concise, accurate and legible records of test performance. Examples include, but are not limited to, electronic work cards, manual type and screen, communication logs, problem logs, and/or other written documentation.
• Reviews patient results, recognizes problems and/or discrepancies. Investigates and performs additional testing to resolve problematic patient test results to the extent possible, documents involved activities and notifies Assistant Supervisor or Manager.
• Transcribes results/information with accuracy into LIS system per LIS policy, including for critical alert values, corrected reports, cancellations and/or other required documentation.
• Appends appropriate coded comments as required by section standard operating procedures and LIS policy and procedure.
• 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 and required call back of results according to department/section procedures, including SQ PL 1 Sunquest Patient Locations Codes Phone List. Provides documentation of Critical Alert Values in LIS as required.
• Maintains proficiency for all designated LIS functions as outlined in section specific policies and procedures.
• Provides proper documentation of receipt, quality control performance and implementation of reagents/lots/materials.
• Ensures adequate Blood inventories are maintained according to standard operating procedure consistent with level of training and experience (Blood Bank only).
• Ensures all work is completed by end of shift and/or accounted for at shift change hand-off according to section policy.
• Assists other laboratory sections as needed when directed by supervisory staff members, including cross-training where required.
• Participates in Quality Assurance /Quality Improvement activities according to Department policies and procedures.
• Maintains active participation in completing initial, semi-annual and annual competency documentation as outlined in section policies and procedures, and where applicable.
• Maintains self-documentation on continuing education form of departmental level requirement per fiscal year, and attends scientific, service related and/or departmental continuing education classes during the year.
• Attends all scheduled staff meetings or, if unable, accepts responsibility for reading staff communications.
• Supports education of Medical Technology students, Pathology residents, new staff existing staff and others through participation in teaching activities which may be didactic and/or "benchside".
• Participates in all Sectional or Departmental committees or task forces as requested by manager
• Communicates via telephone and other methods according to professional courtesy standards and departmental policy;
• Works cooperatively with other laboratory staff members and takes initiative to determine where assistance is needed and renders assistance.
• Reports within shift all incidents, safety hazards or accidents to appropriate personnel according to Departmental Safety Policy.
• Completes mandatory safety education sessions per BMC and Departmental policy to stay informed of changes in safety standards and/or practices regarding safety issues.
• Abides by HIPPA policies and respects patient and employee confidentiality, including during use of social media and/or conducting conversations in public spaces.
• Keeps equipment and work area neat, orderly and well stocked; puts supplies away when received.
• Upon successful completion of training and competency, performs assignments with a minimum of direction Plans and prioritizes tasks and adjusts to variable workloads.
• Maintains open communication with section leadership, including Assistant Supervisors, Managers and Medical Directors.
• Restocks work station after each shift and assesses the inventory as required by section. Notifies management of supply needs.
• Adheres to Boston Medical Center's values as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the institution's mission of exceptional care without exception.
• Follows established Hospital and Laboratory Infection Control and Safety procedures, including no cell phone use in the laboratory, and maintains knowledge of changing criteria during declared emergency.
• Follows BMC and Departmental Dress Code policy, including appropriate PPE.
• Performs other duties as assigned or as needed.

Job Description Characteristics

Education:

Requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college in applied science, Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science upon hire, which includes successful completion of a supervised course of clinical internship in an approved hospital laboratory, or a Bachelor's degree in applied science, or other discipline with an Associate's Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or Medical Laboratory Technician with combined coursework sufficient to meet scientific requirement for employment in CAP accredited laboratory.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required:

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

Entry level position.

Knowledge and Skills:

Requires the knowledge of clinical laboratory science and standards necessary to perform high complexity testing as defined by CLIA (see appendix A) and to accurately report results. Requires the analytic abilities to perform highly complex testing as defined under CLIA 88 as listed in the appendix A to interpret findings, perform calculations, calibrate instruments, review highly complex testing performed by other employees as defined by CLIA guidelines and so forth. Requires the ability to maintain compliance with all regulatory agency (e.g. JCAHO,CAP, FDA, AABB) requirements. Requires the manual/visual dexterity necessary to prepare specimens, prepare solutions, screen specimens and operate a computer software system. Requires English verbal and written language skills sufficient to exchange information with physicians, interact with other technologists and so forth