Health - Laboratory - Medical Technologist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Medical Technologist, under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, is responsible for serving as a Medical Technologist in the clinical laboratory of a rural health center/outpatient clinic with responsibility for carrying out a diagnostic testing program providing microbiology, hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, serology, and special chemistry.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Evaluates requested procedures to determine the suitability of specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable.
• Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the properties is maintained.
• Implements specimen collection and preparation procedures and provides education to nursing staff in the proper methods of specimen collection and transport.
• Instructs medical technologists, medical technicians, nurses, and others in techniques, equipment use and test slip requirements.
• Performs routine and specialized tests.
• Evaluates referred testing.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products by using instruments, reagents, and product check systems.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments.
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks (e.g., mechanical, optical, photometric, electrometric, and automated). Identifies the cause of common problems and makes repairs.
• Participates in providing health instruction to clinic patients, family members, and community groups as assigned.
• Plans and carries out the work and adapts or otherwise modifies conventional techniques as necessary to perform specific analyses, and preserve stock cultures, i.e. prepare reagents.
• Develops guidelines, including quality control standards, writes procedures, and establishes parameters for instrument performance.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Research, tests, and implements new procedures and equipment as needed.
• Responds to requests for information from health center staff, satellite clinics, and other staff.
• All other job-related duties as assigned.

CONTACTS:

Immediate peers, peers in other department, immediate supervisor/manager, managers in other departments, customers, outside vendors/service providers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position sedentary primarily sitting/lifting of maximum of 10 pounds. Physical factors include constant sitting, use of hearing, near/midrange vision, depth perception, color/field of vision, typing; frequent standing, walking, sitting/lifting, reaching; occasional pushing/pulling, stooping, use of smell, use of far vision and bending. Working conditions include occasional exposure to extreme noise. Potential hazards include constant patient contact, computer and equipment use; frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts, chemicals, infectious exposure and needles/syringes and occasional exposure to electric shock. The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform tests walking between the different sections of the laboratory and reaching and bending to obtain supplies and operate instruments. Occasionally lifts 30/40-pound containers of liquid reagent. Personal protection equipment/clothing needed to perform job include fit for N9 Respirator. Must follow universal precautions while at work and wear personal protective equipment. All protective equipment provided by employer. The work involves moderate risks of discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurrent exposure to hazards such as infectious materials, chemicals, and electrical appliances. The technologist must use protective clothing, eye protectors, and biological safety hood.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Bachelor's degree in medical technology with ASCP board certification required.

Experience: Three years of medical technology work experience preferred.

Certification/License: ACSP-MT Certification required. Will be required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Must maintain a good moral character standing. Will be required to complete and pass pre-employment drug testing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Must be able to use judgment and initiative in interpreting and adapting guidelines for application to specific laboratory problems, and developing and maintaining current procedural manuals, formulating alternative approaches where space and equipment limitations make a standard procedure impossible or infeasible, and adapting established methodologies and practices to meet the needs of the laboratory and the community. Professional knowledge of medical technology principles, concepts, and methodology sufficient to perform a broad range of emergency tests, including complex and non-routine analyses, run quality controls, research and implement new procedures required. Knowledge of mathematical and statistical processes sufficient to calculate and convert analytical data to test results required. Knowledge and skill sufficient to use and maintain complicated instruments (e.g., automated blood cell counter, automated clinical chemistry analyzers, automated microbiology analyzers). Knowledge of technical, physiologic, and mechanical indicators of malfunction (e.g., test conditions, patient variables) sufficient to locate and correct errors required. Knowledge of related disciplines to integrate and correlate test results with other laboratory data to (e.g., functional testing) to draw conclusions required. Must possess professional knowledge of medical technology and accrediting/regulatory requirements of HCFA, CAP, or JCAHO sufficient to ensure that the work is consistent with standards (e.g., maintaining chain of custody, handling blood components in accordance with the Federal Code of Regulations) required. Must maintain privacy and confidentiality. Native American preferred.