Job Title:  Clinical Laboratory Technician Lead

Location:  Methodist Campus

Shift: Hematology, Coagulation, UA Lead; Full Time, First Shift, 06:30-15:00, Rotating Weekends/Holidays

Hours per week:  40

Responsible for supervision of technical and support staff involved in the processes of procurement, testing, and reporting in the clinical laboratory on all shifts. Works collaboratively with coordinators, managers, and staff to achieve accurate test results, advance performance improvement and improve financial outcomes as set by the Director of Lab Facilities or Lab Managers. Serves as a technical resource to internal and external customers. Oversees proper scheduling, staffing, and allocation of resources.

Why UnityPoint Health?

• Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what’s right for the people we serve.
• Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
• Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Visit us at UnityPoint.org/careers to hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work. https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org/

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Requirement: It is required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and Influenza. Exemption requests based on medical or religious reasons may be submitted, but must be approved for active employment. 

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Responsible for oversight of technical and support personnel within the general testing and procurement areas on all shifts.

• Provides support and leadership, communicating critical information to their shifts.
• Makes regular rounds with staff and communicates concerns/needs to manager/coordinator.
• Evaluates workload and service requirements to determine staffing and training needs; makes staffing recommendations to manager.
• Evaluates workload and workflow in order to optimize turnaround time in all areas of the laboratory.
• Utilizes knowledge of workflow in all testing sections to improve and alter processes
• Provides input regarding job performance and competency as related to pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical skills for performance reviews.
• Perform and record competency assessment of testing personnel as delegated by section medical director.
• Demonstrates problem solving skills.
• Thoroughly investigates and documents all incidents, complaints and concerns. Communicates them upward as necessary and enters them into event reporting system.
• Provides coaching and counseling and refers further disciplinary steps to the manager.
• Oversees the scheduling of and/or creates staffing schedule(s) ; including redistribution of staff as needed to ensure coverage in all areas of responsibility.
• Responsible for taking off hour call ins and assuring that vacancy is covered appropriately.
• Routinely monitors collection pending reports to ensure all specimens are collected and received appropriately.
• Works with management in interviewing applicants, orienting new employees, and coaching current employees.

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of and is responsible for oversight of responsible lab section.  If off shift lead then needs thorough understanding of specimen procurement.

• Possesses knowledge and ability to perform various LIS and HIS functions/troubleshooting. Particularly as regards specimen receipt into LIS as well as inquiries regarding patient registrations and physician orders.
• Works closely with staff to ensure that policies and procedures are followed. Is aware of and communicates procedural changes to staff in both a verbal and written format.
• As applicable, schedules staff to cover various client physician offices, nursing homes and main lab.
• Provides instruction through skill training as well as functioning as a technical resource.
• Responsible for assuring that protocols are followed in labeling pour offs and specimen storage.
• Insures that reference materials maintained in section are current and include but are not limited to referred testing; trains staff in proper online usage of reference materials.
• Functions as a resource as regards identification of inappropriate specimens and rejection of these specimens.
• Observes and enforces safety guidelines as outlined in our Safety Manual.

• Demonstrate and utilizes the knowledge of a certified technician/scientist.

• Exhibits critical thinking skills and possesses the knowledge to correlate test results to disease states.
• Reviews and investigates complaints, concerns, and problems to determine root causes.
• Recommends policy changes and works with staff to implement process changes in the course of problem resolution.
• Maintains technical knowledge and keeps up with new technologies and testing strategies in order to provide the most-cost-effective, compliant laboratory testing.
• Strives to improve employee satisfaction.
• Understands analytical and post analytical processes in the laboratory.
• Understands the need to recognize implausible results, unusual test reactions, errors and instrument malfunction and how this affects patient testing.
• Using the LEAN philosophy assists staff in organizing their work to provide for minimal turnaround time, assuring their work is performed n a manner that minimizes repeat testing.
• Makes independent decision to refer testing to alternate sites if in place systems are not operable.
• Maintains competencies to be able to work in responsible section(s) of the Lab.

• Exhibits leadership skills and functions as liaison.

• Acts as a liaison with both internal and external customers including Nursing Outpatient labs, ED and clients.
• Fosters a culture within UnityPoint that promotes prevention, detection and resolution of conduct that does to conform to established standards, regulatory requirements and business and ethical policies.
• Works with Technical Consultant to insure off shift staff turn in proficiency testing in a timely manner.
• Supports point-of-care testing within the Medical Center.
• Serves as a technical consultant to both internal and external customers.
• Maintains expertise in general area to help with educational, technical, and/or support activities as needed.
• Meets regularly with staff to discuss daily operations, indicators, customer needs, problems, and changes.
• Interacts with medical, technical, and support staff, clients, vendors, coordinators, and administrative personnel effectively. Assists in the communication of compliance issues to staff.
• Indicate by the frequency codes below, the approximate amount of time that the following are required of persons in this job.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology with at least one year of experience, or
• Associate’s degree in a chemical or biological science or medical laboratory technology with at least three years of experience preferred.
• Education must meet the requirements defined in CLIA regulation 42CFR493.1489

Work Experience

• 1 to 3 years of experience (dependent upon education) in/with clinical laboratory required.

License and Certification

• While certification of technical personnel by a professional organization, such as ASCP is highly desirable, such certification is voluntary and may be obtained at the discretion of the employee.
• Required English Skills
• Basic writing skills
• Other: Advanced technical/clinical oral skills.

Communication Skills

• Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker
• Interaction with a wide variety of people
• Maintain confidential information
• Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information
• Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor

Computer Skills

• Intermediate computer knowledge: Ability to troubleshoot minor problems within a Windows OS, operates within a network environment, uses spreadsheet, database, word processing and internet applications proficiently. Learns new applications without difficulty and is able to aid others in immediate work area with computer questions.
• MS Office Apps
• Web Browser
• Windows Operating System
• Outlook