Medical Technologist / Medical Laboratory Technician

JOB PURPOSE OR MISSION: Performs routine and special clinical laboratory tests on patient specimens, correlates and interprets data based on knowledge of techniques, principles and instruments. Investigates problems, performs corrective and preventive maintenance of equipment, prepares reagents, and performs data entry of test results. Responsibilities include applying clinical laboratory techniques in accordance with standardized methodology. Performs duties for the age population served, as defined in the department’s scope of service.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

CRITERIA A: Everyday Excellence Values

Employee demonstrates Everyday Excellence values in the day-to-day performance of their job.

• Demonstrates courtesy and caring to each other, patients and their families, physicians, and the community.
• Takes initiative in living our Everyday Excellence values and vital signs.
• Takes initiative in identifying customer needs before the customer asks.
• Participates in teamwork willingly and with enthusiasm.
• Demonstrates respect for the dignity and privacy needs of customers through personal action and attention to the environment of care.
• Keeps customers informed, answers customer questions and anticipates information needs of customers.

CRITERIA B: Corporate Compliance

Employee demonstrates commitment to the Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Guidelines, and the GHS Corporate Compliance Guidelines.

• Practices diligence in fulfilling the regulatory and legal requirements of the position and department.
• Maintains accurate and reliable patient/organizational records.
• Maintains professional relationships with appropriate officials; communicates honestly and completely; behaves in a fair and nondiscriminatory manner in all professional contacts.

CRITERIA C: Personal Achievement

Employee demonstrates initiative in achieving work goals and meeting personal objectives.

• Uses accepted procedures and practices to complete assignments.
• Uses creative and proactive solutions to achieve objectives even when workload and demands are high.
• Adheres to high moral principles of honesty, loyalty, sincerity, and fairness.
• Upholds the ethical standards of the organization.

CRITERIA D: Performance Improvement

Employee actively participates in Performance Improvement activities and incorporates quality improvement standards in his/her job performance.

• Optimizes talents, skills, and abilities in achieving excellence in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
• Initiates or redesigns to continuously improve work processes.
• Contributes ideas and suggestions to improve approaches to work processes.
• Willingly participates in organization and/or department quality initiatives.

CRITERIA E: Cost Management

Employee demonstrates effective cost management practices.

• Effectively manages time and resources.
• Makes conscious effort to effectively utilize the resources of the organization — material, human, and financial.
• Consistently looks for and uses resource saving processes.

CRITERIA F: Patient & Employee Safety

Employee actively participates in and demonstrates effective patient and employee safety practices.

• Employee effectively communicates, demonstrates, coordinates and emphasizes patient and employee safety.
• Employee proactively reports errors, potential errors, injuries or potential injuries using the hospital incident reporting system.
• Employee demonstrates departmental specific patient and employee safety standards at all times.
• Employee demonstrates the use of proper safety techniques, equipment and devices and follows safety policies, procedures and plans.
• Willingly participates in organization and/or department patient safety and satisfaction initiatives.

JOB FUNCTIONS

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS include, but are not limited to:

1. Performs various laboratory diagnostic tests on patient specimens.

• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the principles and theories of technical procedures.
• Prepares specimens for testing using solutions, reagents and stains as required.
• Processes specimens according to department protocol and performs test procedures indicated on the request form according to established procedures.
• Recognizes abnormal or unexpected results and the variables that can affect test procedures and then follows up appropriately.
• Completes testing as ordered within appropriate time frames.
• Meets expected test turnaround time consistently.
• Records and reports all results within established guidelines.
• Assists with morgue duties as necessary once deemed competent.

2. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the operation and principles of departmental instrumentation.

• Accurately performs quality control and/or calibration on all testing procedures and notifies supervisor when quality control issues occur.
• Follows quality control guidelines as documented in procedure manuals.
• Records instrument maintenance and quality control performance results accurately.
• Notifies a supervisor of out-of-control, discrepant, or unexpected results.
• Properly documents corrective action or justification.

3. Accurately interprets and reports laboratory test results.

• Utilizes delta check feature in result interpretation as required.
• Reports STAT results within 30 minutes of specimen receipt as indicated by testing equipment and test type.
• Reports critical values according to established protocol. Ensures and documents “read back” protocol.
• Accurately transcribes (manual and keystroke entry) test results.

4. Communicates effectively with physicians, nursing staff, co-workers and other organizational staff.

• Achieves clarity and understanding in communication with physicians and organizational staff.
• No complaints are received regarding behavior or interactions with physicians, coworkers or organizational staff.
• Addresses operational issues in a professional manner maintaining composure and focus on the issue at hand.
• Discourages gossip actively; promotes cooperation and teamwork within the department among co-workers, across sections, shifts and campuses.

5. Observes and follows established departmental environment of care and safety protocols and practices.

• Follows established personal protection equipment (PPE) policy wearing appropriate lab coats, gloves and shoes during performance of laboratory testing and related tasks.
• Minimizes risk to personal injury through employing appropriate techniques in specimen handling, handling of sharps and ergonomics.
• Maintains an orderly and clean work environment.
• Alert to potential safety hazards, reports incidents and accidents appropriately.

6. Attends departmental, organizational and continuing education meetings.

• Attends a minimum of 9 departmental meetings annually.
• Attends mandatory organizational meetings as required.
• Maintains a minimum of 12 CEUs annually.

7. Performs other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Must have the ability to exercise judgment in the application of practices, procedures, and techniques to work problems of a well-defined nature.

SPECIAL SKILL, LICENSE AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

Current Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Technician or Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Generalist license issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Able to work rotating weekends and holidays.

HIPAA REQUIREMENTS:

Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable HIPAA regulations appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Paper medical records with limit to job functions, electronic GHIN without limitation, patient demographics, lab results, patient information related to surgery or appointment schedules, and information related to patient location.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable safety practices appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Incident reporting, handling of wastes, sharps and linen, PPE, exposure control plans, hand washing, environment of care, patient identification, and receives orders for patients.