SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Director of Laboratory Services, the Clinical Lab Scientist performs technical laboratory testing to facilitate optimum patient care in accordance with laboratory policies and procedures and federal/state regulations, including FDA, CAP, COLA, OSHA and CLIA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Laboratory Duties
  • Performs and reports assigned analytical tests, including high complexity tests on biological specimens, in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner in compliance with laboratory procedures.
  • Determines acceptability of specimens by performing visual inspections or by recognizing abnormal/unusual results. Documents unacceptable specimens according to appropriate policy. Communicates specimen requirements to appropriate personnel.
  • Maintains quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure validity of results. Recognizes factors that affect measurements and results and takes appropriate action according to predetermined protocols. Performs quality control for all testing and meets established ranges before patient results are released.
  • Maintains a safe and efficient working environment in the laboratory by performing equipment checks, cleaning work area, and monitoring temperatures in accordance with regulatory agencies and laboratory policies.
  • Recognizes and troubleshoots malfunctions of advanced technological equipment, notifies the Director of Laboratory and initiates corrective action. Documents any corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory’s established performance specifications.
  • Enters test results into the Laboratory Information System.
  • Participates in Quality Assurance Review.
  • Performs phlebotomy duties as needed.
  • Bills accurately and in a timely manner for laboratory procedures.
  • Organizes and maintains general laboratory supplies. Requests laboratory supplies as necessary to ensure uninterrupted specimen collection and testing.
  • Transports STAT laboratory specimens to other local laboratory facilities, as needed.
• Other
  • Complies with all applicable safety and health regulations, policies and procedures. Complies with established personal protective equipment requirements necessary for protection against exposure to blood and body fluids, other potentially infectious material, chemical disinfectants, and other hazardous substances.
  • Performs all duties in a safe, responsible manner using required safety devices and personal protective equipment and following appropriate safety guidelines, including use of Universal Precautions, proper handwashing technique, and other work practice controls which minimize occupational exposure.
• Professional Communication
  • Maintains confidentiality in matters relating to all aspects of employment, including patient/family/significant other confidentiality.
  • Interacts with patients/family/significant others with a variety of developmental and sociocultural backgrounds.
  • Provides information to patients and family/significant others that reduces anxiety and conveys an attitude of acceptance, sensitivity and caring.
  • Maintains professional relationships and conveys relevant information to other members of the health care team.
    • Internal Contacts: Physicians, nursing staff, office staff, other laboratory staff, billing representatives, etc., and staff at other CCSI facilities.
    • External Contacts: Other laboratories, distributors, manufacturers, vendors, contract maintenance personnel, couriers, hospitals, home health care, hospice, other physician offices, etc.
  • Relays information appropriately over telephones, facsimiles, pagers, and other communication devices, and follows-through as needed.
  • Communicates appropriate information to physicians and follows-through on physician orders and requests as needed.
• Teamwork
  • Works collaboratively as a health care team member.
  • Reports on patient conditions as needed to those who require information, including physicians, nursing staff, radiation staff, and other laboratory staff.
  • Assists with tasks necessary for the general operation and organization of the laboratory.
  • Maintains positive attitude with patients, family/significant others and coworkers.
• Professional Development
  • Attends staff meetings and mandatory inservices.
  • Participates in continuing education opportunities.
  • Contributes to the quality of patient care and participates in quality improvement initiatives.

OTHER DUTIES:

Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor degree in Science. Successful completion of accredited two year training program for Medical Technology (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS). ASCP certification or eligible. Must take EPIC training and successfully pass required tests.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: One year clinical laboratory experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: Knowledge of basic laboratory procedures and equipment. Knowledge and skills to use laboratory computers and equipment to perform laboratory tests and input test data. Knowledge and skills to perform moderate and high complexity laboratory procedures in the areas of blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology or microbiology. Knowledge and skills to complete microscopic procedures and respond to challenges such as differentiating cell types, including abnormal cells, identifying antibodies to provide compatible cross matches for blood products and identifying microorganisms. Knowledge and skills to perform phlebotomy services. Knowledge of safety precautions and procedures related to exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Verbal and written English communication skills for safe and effective patient care and to meet documentation standards. Eye, hand, and auditory coordination. Ability to operate office equipment, including telephones, computer terminals, copiers, facsimiles, etc. Ability to perform basic arithmetic functions. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work meeting time constraints and with little direct supervision. Ability to function in a sometimes demanding and fast-paced work environment related to changing patient needs, including work with patients with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes and those who are dying. Ability to recognize obvious errors in results and investigate for probable cause. Understands errors in test results may delay treatment of patient and/or cause misdiagnosis. Understands and practices patient confidentiality. A positive attitude towards health care team members and diverse patient populations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB: Standing, walking, sitting, carrying, pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, twisting, reaching, handling, kneeling, and wrist and digital dexterity. Speaking, hearing, and visual acuity to receive and interpret instructions; communicate with patients and other health care professionals; use telephone system; and operate laboratory and general office equipment.

Manual dexterity to perform lab tests, enter data, collect blood specimens, and perform equipment maintenance. Concentrated mental/visual acuity, corrected vision to work with detail material and specimen collection, and color recognition to identify color coded specimen tubes, detect changes in specimens and perform clinical testing. Frequent, prolonged periods of standing in order to perform lab tests and operate equipment. Frequent bending and reaching for venipuncture and skin punctures. Physical stamina required to endure long periods of walking/standing. Exerting force (frequently up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 20 pounds or more) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including laboratory supplies, laboratory logs, etc. Able to move quickly from place to place on occasion. Possible driving.

MENTAL DEMANDS: Must be able to work under stress and adapt to changing conditions. Must be able to respond to emergency situations in a calm, professional manner.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Laboratory environment. Frequent work interruptions. Job duties involve potential for exposure to blood and body fluids, laboratory chemicals and disinfectants. Frequent exposure to blood and body fluids due to specimen collection.

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SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Director of Laboratory Services, the Clinical Lab Scientist performs technical laboratory testing to facilitate optimum patient care in accordance with laboratory policies and procedures and federal/state regulations, including FDA, CAP, COLA, OSHA and CLIA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Laboratory Duties
  • Performs and reports assigned analytical tests, including high complexity tests on biological specimens, in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner in compliance with laboratory procedures.
  • Determines acceptability of specimens by performing visual inspections or by recognizing abnormal/unusual results. Documents unacceptable specimens according to appropriate policy. Communicates specimen requirements to appropriate personnel.
  • Maintains quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure validity of results. Recognizes factors that affect measurements and results and takes appropriate action according to predetermined protocols. Performs quality control for all testing and meets established ranges before patient results are released.
  • Maintains a safe and efficient working environment in the laboratory by performing equipment checks, cleaning work area, and monitoring temperatures in accordance with regulatory agencies and laboratory policies.
  • Recognizes and troubleshoots malfunctions of advanced technological equipment, notifies the Director of Laboratory and initiates corrective action. Documents any corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory’s established performance specifications.
  • Enters test results into the Laboratory Information System.
  • Participates in Quality Assurance Review.
  • Performs phlebotomy duties as needed.
  • Bills accurately and in a timely manner for laboratory procedures.
  • Organizes and maintains general laboratory supplies. Requests laboratory supplies as necessary to ensure uninterrupted specimen collection and testing.
  • Transports STAT laboratory specimens to other local laboratory facilities, as needed.
• Other
  • Complies with all applicable safety and health regulations, policies and procedures. Complies with established personal protective equipment requirements necessary for protection against exposure to blood and body fluids, other potentially infectious material, chemical disinfectants, and other hazardous substances.
  • Performs all duties in a safe, responsible manner using required safety devices and personal protective equipment and following appropriate safety guidelines, including use of Universal Precautions, proper handwashing technique, and other work practice controls which minimize occupational exposure.
• Professional Communication
  • Maintains confidentiality in matters relating to all aspects of employment, including patient/family/significant other confidentiality.
  • Interacts with patients/family/significant others with a variety of developmental and sociocultural backgrounds.
  • Provides information to patients and family/significant others that reduces anxiety and conveys an attitude of acceptance, sensitivity and caring.
  • Maintains professional relationships and conveys relevant information to other members of the health care team.
    • Internal Contacts: Physicians, nursing staff, office staff, other laboratory staff, billing representatives, etc., and staff at other CCSI facilities.
    • External Contacts: Other laboratories, distributors, manufacturers, vendors, contract maintenance personnel, couriers, hospitals, home health care, hospice, other physician offices, etc.
  • Relays information appropriately over telephones, facsimiles, pagers, and other communication devices, and follows-through as needed.
  • Communicates appropriate information to physicians and follows-through on physician orders and requests as needed.
• Teamwork
  • Works collaboratively as a health care team member.
  • Reports on patient conditions as needed to those who require information, including physicians, nursing staff, radiation staff, and other laboratory staff.
  • Assists with tasks necessary for the general operation and organization of the laboratory.
  • Maintains positive attitude with patients, family/significant others and coworkers.
• Professional Development
  • Attends staff meetings and mandatory inservices.
  • Participates in continuing education opportunities.
  • Contributes to the quality of patient care and participates in quality improvement initiatives.

OTHER DUTIES:

Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor degree in Science. Successful completion of accredited two year training program for Medical Technology (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS). ASCP certification or eligible. Must take EPIC training and successfully pass required tests.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: One year clinical laboratory experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: Knowledge of basic laboratory procedures and equipment. Knowledge and skills to use laboratory computers and equipment to perform laboratory tests and input test data. Knowledge and skills to perform moderate and high complexity laboratory procedures in the areas of blood banking, chemistry, hematology, immunology or microbiology. Knowledge and skills to complete microscopic procedures and respond to challenges such as differentiating cell types, including abnormal cells, identifying antibodies to provide compatible cross matches for blood products and identifying microorganisms. Knowledge and skills to perform phlebotomy services. Knowledge of safety precautions and procedures related to exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Verbal and written English communication skills for safe and effective patient care and to meet documentation standards. Eye, hand, and auditory coordination. Ability to operate office equipment, including telephones, computer terminals, copiers, facsimiles, etc. Ability to perform basic arithmetic functions. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work meeting time constraints and with little direct supervision. Ability to function in a sometimes demanding and fast-paced work environment related to changing patient needs, including work with patients with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes and those who are dying. Ability to recognize obvious errors in results and investigate for probable cause. Understands errors in test results may delay treatment of patient and/or cause misdiagnosis. Understands and practices patient confidentiality. A positive attitude towards health care team members and diverse patient populations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB: Standing, walking, sitting, carrying, pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, twisting, reaching, handling, kneeling, and wrist and digital dexterity. Speaking, hearing, and visual acuity to receive and interpret instructions; communicate with patients and other health care professionals; use telephone system; and operate laboratory and general office equipment.

Manual dexterity to perform lab tests, enter data, collect blood specimens, and perform equipment maintenance. Concentrated mental/visual acuity, corrected vision to work with detail material and specimen collection, and color recognition to identify color coded specimen tubes, detect changes in specimens and perform clinical testing. Frequent, prolonged periods of standing in order to perform lab tests and operate equipment. Frequent bending and reaching for venipuncture and skin punctures. Physical stamina required to endure long periods of walking/standing. Exerting force (frequently up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 20 pounds or more) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including laboratory supplies, laboratory logs, etc. Able to move quickly from place to place on occasion. Possible driving.

MENTAL DEMANDS: Must be able to work under stress and adapt to changing conditions. Must be able to respond to emergency situations in a calm, professional manner.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Laboratory environment. Frequent work interruptions. Job duties involve potential for exposure to blood and body fluids, laboratory chemicals and disinfectants. Frequent exposure to blood and body fluids due to specimen collection.