Job Description
This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing timely and accurate patient results in one or more areas of the clinical laboratory. The Medical Laboratory Scientist ensures test accuracy through compliance with regulatory requirements, performance and review of quality control, and active participation in performance improvement activities.
Job Duties
Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed. Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome
Properly identifies patients and samples during the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing
Performs analyses on a variety of biological specimens, including blood, urine, stool, body fluids and tissues
Performs, evaluates, and documents calibration and quality control; resolves issues as needed
Maintains, troubleshoots, and resolves issues with assays and instruments
Follows laboratory procedures for test analysis, test reporting, and maintaining records of patient results
Communicates effectively and professionally with physicians, nurses, other medical personnel, patients, and families
Prioritizes workload to ensure timely reporting of results
Maintains and improves skills by participating in at least one continuing education activity annually
Actively seeks and identifies opportunities for process improvement
Assists in procedure writing, updating, and validating
Acts as a resource for laboratory medicine information to providers and others
Uses laboratory information system access information, enter results, and generate reports
Educates and trains MLT and MLS students
May be required to perform specimen collection, including phlebotomy, respiratory swabs, and skin tests, with skill and compassion
Department Specific Duties
Assist providers with special procedures as needed (for example, bone marrows)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures
Knowledge of regulatory requirements, including CAP, COLA, CLIA, TJC, and FDA
Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure without sacrificing quality
Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work with interruptions
Skill to use standard laboratory instrumentation
Skill to use the laboratory information system (LIS)
Ability to critically think about test results in relation to patient condition
Ability to recognize and correct problems with quality control
Ability to recognize problems and troubleshoot laboratory equipment
Ability to detail-oriented
Ability to complete appropriate documentation and paperwork clearly and completely
Professional Experience
Experience preferred, but not required.
Education
Required: Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory, biological, or chemical science
Licensure, Certification, Registration
Required: Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (American Society of Clinical Pathologists), Medical Technician (American Society of Clinical Pathologists), or Medical Technician (Association of Medical Technologists) within 1 year of hire
Employees hired prior to 1/1/13 have been grandfathered
Employment Type
PRN