Laboratory Assistant jobs in Cedar Falls, IA

Department: Laboratory

Hours: Fulltime, 1.0 FTE

Description:

Position Overview: The Laboratory Director is an active member of Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) leadership and is responsible for the overall operation and administration of laboratory services, and management of human and other resources needed to provide diagnostic laboratory services. Ensures quality laboratory testing by following Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations and standards. Builds and maintains effective, collaborative relationships with department staff, other medical center departments and laboratory related associations and organizations. Supports the development of laboratory staff and ensures a safe and positive work environment. Responsible for inventory control, ordering of supplies and equipment, and contract negotiations.

• Contributes to strategic planning, direction, and goal setting for the department in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Leads and influences a collaborative team culture with a high level of employee engagement and satisfaction. Supports open communication, trust, and transparency within the team.
• Partners with Human Resources (HR) in the areas of employee relations, performance management, hiring, job class promotions, and training. Works with HR to maintain job descriptions for each laboratory position. Conducts performance appraisals according to HR guidelines.
• Develops, reviews, and updates department policies and technical procedures.
• Responsible for establishing and executing a comprehensive Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that meets the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Responsible for ensuring up-to-date Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals used and/or stored in the department are readily available to employees.
• Responsible for establishing and executing a comprehensive Compliance Plan that meets the Office of Inspector General (OIG) regulations.
• Stays abreast of regulatory requirements and compliance changes, ensures timely staff education.
• Develops a Quality Control (QC) plan and an Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP) to monitor and evaluate the testing process to assure accurate and reliable patient test results.
• Implements test systems and ensures that verification procedures are adequate to determine accuracy, precision and other pertinent performance characteristics of the method prior to reporting patient results.
• Participates in a CMS approved proficiency testing program.
• Establishes and implements a Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) that covers all aspects of laboratory operations.
• Develops staff work schedules and ensures adequate staffing levels of appropriately educated, experienced, and trained personnel are maintained for the department. Reviews timecards and prepares them for payroll.
• Ensures all laboratory employees are current on required certifications and licensures needed to perform duties.
• Assumes responsibility of the preparation, monitoring, and controlling of the financial budget for the department, including utilization of staff and control of expenses in order to maintain operating costs within projected levels and meet financial goals of the medical center. Follows established procedures on submitting capital requests.
• Ensures senior leadership is informed of any unusual and/or significant issues that may affect patient satisfaction, timeliness of services, reimbursement, or general patient flow.
• Continuously works to improve laboratory processes; facilitates a team approach to problem solving and process improvement.
• Effectively communicates with medical center leadership, pathologists, medical staff, nursing staff, laboratory staff, and other internal and external customers.
• Responsible for maintenance and replacement of current lab equipment and addition of new testing equipment and reagents.
• Assumes all responsibilities of a General Supervisor as outlined in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42 § 493.1463.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities that are related and appropriate to the position and area. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this classification and are not to be considered as all-inclusive.

Minimum Education and/or Experience Required:

• Must meet General Supervisor requirements as outlined in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42 § 493.1461.
• Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution with at least one year of laboratory experience (preferred) or associate degree in a laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution with at least two years of laboratory experience and a bachelor’s degree in healthcare, management, or other related field.
• Five years of laboratory experience preferred.
• Operational, quality assurance and/or administrative experience in a laboratory preferred.
• One to three years of supervisory experience preferred.

Additional Qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Must be able to read, speak, and write fluent English.
• Must have practical knowledge of common office software applications including Microsoft Windows, Outlook, Excel, Word, Edge, etc.
• Knowledge of laboratory information systems and computerized instrumentation.
• Dependable.
• Through experience, the ability to understand all functional areas of the lab operations.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and under strict time constraints.
• Ability to define problems, collect information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to operate technologies and equipment associated with this position.
• Extremely strong attention to detail.
• Adaptive to change, embraces change with optimism.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and manage time efficiently.
• Embraces high professional standards. Exhibits integrity with ability to work independently and self-driven initiative to take on tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with staff, Health Care Providers, and other departments, and administrative team.
• Ability to address and manage conflict in a direct and professional manner.
• Familiar with and a willingness to navigate related professional associations and organizations to ensure compliance, standards, and best practices are accomplished for each covered area.
• Ability to work outside of regularly scheduled hours if needed.

Licensure/Certification Required:

• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Mandatory Reporter of Dependent Adult/Child Abuse or completion within six months of hire.

Physical/Cognitive Requirements:

• Sit: Frequent
• Stand: Frequent
• Walk: Frequent
• Lift:
  • 10 pounds Frequent
  • 25 pounds: Occasionally
  • 50 pounds*: Occasionally
  • 75 pounds*: Occasionally
  • Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
• Carry:
  • 10 pounds: Frequent
  • 25 pounds: Occasionally
  • 50 pounds*: Occasionally
  • 75 pounds*: Occasionally
  • Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
• Push/Pull:
  • 10 pounds: Frequent
  • 25 pounds: Occasionally
  • 50 pounds*: Occasionally
  • 75 pounds*: Occasionally
  • Greater than 100 pounds*: Occasionally
• Squat/Kneel/Crouch: Frequent
• Climb: Occasionally
• Balance: Frequent
• Twist: Frequent
• Bend/Stoop: Frequent
• Crawl: Never
• Grasp/Grip: Frequent
• Talk: Frequent
• Hear: Constant
• See: Constant

• Anything greater than 50 pounds- assist of two or more, or mechanical lift are required.

Environmental Factors:

• May be exposed to communicable diseases due to working in a health care environment.
• Works in a well-illuminated climate-controlled environment.
• Work environment is comfortable, with minimal exposure to physical hazards.
• Moderate noise level when machines/equipment in use but typically quiet environment.
• May come in contact with blood and other body fluids.

Organizational Relationships:

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with medical supervision and operational guidance from the board certified doctoral Medical Laboratory Director (MLD).

Employees supervised: All laboratory personnel including MLTs and MLSs.