Job Summary
Under general supervision, analyzes the different properties of body specimens from patients from birth to death, such as blood, urine, CSF, stool, sputum, etc. All lab tests are ordered by a physician and the results may assist the physician in the care of their patients. The technologist may also assist in obtaining the specimens for analyzing, may direct professional and non-professional personnel in assigning duties, and may orient new personnel in the department and may perform other lab duties as assigned. Must reflect mission statement and philosophy of Memorial Hospital and Health Care center in daily work habits and contacts.
Qualifications
Education:
Graduation from an approved school of Medical Technology; MT/MLT ASCP registration or the equivalent, HEW certified or the eligibility for registration. Minimum requirements one year of college.
Training:
Three to four months on the job training required.
Experience:
None required, six months to one year preferred.
Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge and skills which enable the assumption of responsibilities for reporting the analyzed results. Familiarity and skills to interpret a procedure, follow it, and determine if the results are correct for reporting. Knowledge as to how to correct for mechanical or reagent failure. Technical skills in using a computer. Skills to set up new procedures as demand indicates.
Performance Requirements
Responsible For:
Performing and implementing the tasks that may be required in various laboratory departments. How to correct for mechanical, reagent, or technical errors that may occur. Maintain equipment and keep quality control and quality assurance on all procedures. Assist in teaching and training other personnel. Assist in keeping the work area clean and be aware of all biohazard procedures. Follow all bodily fluid precaution procedures. Assist in maintaining supplies.
Physical Demands:
Walks, sits, and stands intermittently. Must be able to recognize colors. Moves and lifts occasionally heavy supply reagents.
Special Demands:
Willingness to work with the realization errors and incompetence may hurt others. Competency, tact, and patience are needed to communicate with patients, doctors, and other personnel. Initiative and judgment in adapting or devising techniques and procedures to meet the needs of the patients and the laboratory. As a 24-hour facility, required to work rotating shifts, holidays, and weekends.
General Supervisor Responsibilities
1. The general supervisor is responsible for day to day supervision or oversight of the laboratory operation and personnel performing testing and reporting test results. They must be accessible to testing personnel at all times testing is performed to provide on-site, telephone or electronic consultation to resolve technical problems in accordance with policies and procedures established either by the laboratory director or technical supervisor.
2. Is responsible for providing day to day supervision of high complexity test performance by testing personnel.
3. Must be onsite to provide direct supervision when high complexity testing is performed by any individuals.
4. Responsible for monitoring test analyses and specimen examinations to ensure that acceptable levels of analytic performance are maintained.
5. The director or technical supervisor may delegate to the general supervisor the responsibility for assuring that all remedial actions are taken whenever test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications.
6. Ensuring that patient test results are not reported until all corrective actions have been taken and the test system is properly functioning.
7. Provide orientation to all testing personnel and annually evaluating and documenting the performance of all testing personnel.
Testing Personnel Responsibilities
1. The testing personnel are responsible for specimen processing, test performance and for reporting test results.
2. Each individual performs only those high complexity tests that are authorized by the laboratory director and require a degree of skill commensurate with the individual's education, training, or experience, and technical abilities.
3. Each individual performing high complexity testing must follow the laboratory's procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, reporting and maintaining records of patient test results.
4. Maintain records that demonstrate that proficiency testing samples are tested in the same manner as patient specimens.
5. Adhere to the laboratory's quality control policies, document all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations and maintenance performed.
6. Follow the laboratory's established policies and procedures whenever test systems are not within the laboratory's established acceptable levels of performance.
7. Be capable of identifying problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results and either must correct the problems or immediately notify the general supervisor, technical supervisor, clinical consultant, or director.
8. Document all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory's established performance specifications.
9. Except as specified, perform high complexity testing only under the onsite, direct supervision of a general supervisor.
Representative Functions
Practices the core values of Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center. (Ongoing)
Complies with the 5-Step Customer Service Plan as outlined in the Organization Policy Manual. (Ongoing)
1. Blood Bank (10%)
- Does inventory, orders blood components from ARC, performs Blood Types, Antibody Screens, Antibody Identification, Crossmatches, RhoGam studies. Prepares and issues blood components and assists with therapeutic phlebotomies.
- Evaluates problems encountered with patient testing and refers to reference lab if necessary.
- Accurately documents test results.
- Run specimens on Provue.
2. Hematology (15%)
- Runs counts thru XE2100, performs differentials, retic counts, sed rates, and BNP. Performs counts and smears on other body fluids.
- Runs counts thru XS1000 as a back-up instrument.
3. Coagulation. (10%)
- Performs Protimes, PTT's, Fibrinogens, and d-Dimers on CA1500.
- Performs coagulation assays on back-up instruments: CA500.
- Performs assays on PFA instrument.
4. Urinalysis (5%)
- Performs dipstick chemical analysis, confirmatory testing and microscopic analysis on urines. Performs strep screens, RSV's, Influenza testing, Strep pneumo testing.
- Runs specimens on Clinetek Advantus instrument and Sysmex UF-1000.
- Performs urine drug screens.
5. Chemistry (15%)
- Processes specimens for chemical analysis. Runs specimens on Vitros 5600,Osmometer, D-10, and Gem 4000 blood gas instrument.
- Prepares specimens for reference laboratory and other send outs.
6. Serology (5%)
- Performs RPR's, monophiles, ASO's, Cold Agglutinins, and titers when indicated.
- Performs parallel testing with different lot numbers of kits.
7. Microbiology (5%)
- Performs gram stains, wet mounts, Rotovirus, and India Ink stains. Sets up cultures, subcultures, and gram stains, positive blood cultures.
- Notifies doctors of all positive CSF's and blood cultures gram stains.
- Reads cultures if applicable. Performs ID's and sensitivities per procedure protocols. Performs assays on Cepheid GeneXpert and other tests such as Giardia/Crypto.
8. Quality Control & Quality Assurance. (10%)
- Lab personnel must prepare controls and calibrators for QC of instruments. They must document control values appropriately and abide by the given QC rule of each instrument. Documents procedural controls when necessary.
- Any unacceptable quality control needs to have appropriate remedial action performed and documented.
9. Maintenance and Troubleshooting. (5%)
- Maintenance is done and dictated by the schedule for each piece of equipment.
- Troubleshooting when problems arise and resolving before test results are reported.
10. Learning new instruments and procedures, continuing education and competency. (10%)
- Procedure or instrument is set up for use in the lab. The trained techs will instruct other personnel who will use the procedure or instrument.
- Medical technologists are to be receptive to new instruments and/or procedures and be able to adapt to the new equipment and procedures after attending the required inservices.
- Attends 50% of all department meetings and attends hospital wide meetings without going to make up videos.
- Provide orientation to all testing personnel and annually evaluating and documenting the performance of all testing personnel.
11. Computer (5%)
- Register patients in the computer correctly.
- All lab tests have to be ordered and charged upon receiving the requests.
- After tests completed, the results are entered into the computer, verified with any call or fax requests to the appropriate request.
- All critical values are called and faxed to the appropriate doctor, floor, or health care provider.
- Revise incorrect reports as soon as possible and state as revision or revised report. Calls corrected report to Health Care Providers
12. Ordering Supplies and unpacking new shipments. (5%)
- Supplies are unpacked as they arrive with refrigerated supplies unpacked as soon as possible.
- Supplies are ordered as needed by want book and also by a department inventory log.